slideshow

RALPH McKENZIE

NORTH MITCHELL HEIGHTS, W.Va. — Ralph H. McKenzie, 70 of North Mitchell Heights, formerly of Crooked Creek, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2012, at home following a long illness.

Born July 16, 1942, in Morehead, Ky., he was a son of the late Andy and Oda McKenzie, his mother who he loved and admired very much. Also preceding him in death were three brothers, Austin, Bill and Mitch McKenzie, all of Kentucky; one precious sister, Kathy Farley of Kentucky; one nephew, Larry Jones of Kentucky; one loving niece, Katheryn Dunford of Whitman, and a very special stepson who he though of as his own, James Allen Workman of Crooked Creek, and his father- and mother-in-law,m Sam and Velma Parsons of Crooked Creek.

Ralph was retired from Hobet Coal Company with 30 years of service and a member of the UMWA.

Those left to cherish his memory include the one true love of his life, his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Betty Jo McKenzie; five sisters, Louise Hensley of Whitman, Helen McCall of Florida, and Bonnie (Marlon) McDaniel, Virginia (Denzel) Hall, Carmie McKenzie, all of Kentucky; one brother, J.P. (Margaret) McKenzie of Kentucky; one very special nephew, Bruce McDaniel; one sister-in-law, Mae Lee Webb; niece, Shelia (Keith) Gates, and nephew, David Zappia, both of North Carolina, and one granddaughter, Christy Lynn Hall, that he loved and thought of as his own because she was always there when he needed her and he had her spoiled; Christy’s husband, Billy Hall Jr., and a very special great-grandson, Billy R. (Meredith) Hall III, whom he also had spoiled. Ralph also had two very special friends he loved like his brother and sister, David and Judy Morris and all of the guys he had worked with for so many years.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, at James Funeral Home Chapel with the Pastor Joe Lane officiating. Entombment will follow at the Forest Lawn Cemetery at Pecks Mill.

Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Bill Hall Sr., Billy Hall Jr., Billy R. Hall III, William Austin Browning and Bruce McDaniel.

James Funeral Home of Aracoma is in charge of the arrangements.