Baker City, Baker County, Oregon
Huela Van McKenzie, 79, of Baker City, died Dec. 27, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.
A memorial service will be scheduled later.
Huela was born on Feb. 11, 1926, at Plant City, Fla., to Hulon and Gladys Hamilton Van. After graduating from high school, she attended Florida Southern College at Lakeland, Fla., where she studied music.
In June 1948, she married Robert McKenzie at Memphis, Tenn. They moved to Pendleton in 1950. She was a housewife and the mother of five children.
Huela later worked in Portland as a receptionist at Physicians and Surgeons Hospital and as a clerical specialist for Adult Family Services.
She enjoyed playing the piano and organ, sewing and cooking. She was a member of the Oriental Shrine in Pendleton. She was also a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at Baker City. Huela was a devout Christian who took Holy Communion every other day while attending chapel services at the care center. The Episcopal Church also gave her Holy Communion frequently.
Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Heiple of John Day, Linda Witherrite of Hillsboro and Kathy McClure of Pendleton; her sons, Randall McKenzie of Pendleton and Ronald McKenzie of Dayton, Wash.; and seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 6, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor