Betty Irene Mckenzie

Betty Irene McKenzie

Betty was born April 22, 1930, in Indiana Harbor, Indiana. Her family lived in a house rented from Youngstown Sheet and Tube in a subdivision across from the factory. Her father was Gutherie Garland and her mother Dena Mary Kesler. Grandparents Lon and Charlotte Kesler lived with them also. Betty’s family moved to an apartment building her grandfather took care of when she was seven and her brother Lamar was five. Her parents were divorced a year later, and Betty continued living with her mother and grandparents. They moved to Crown Point, Indiana, when Betty was nine. There, her grandparents bought an old farmhouse on twenty acres, and Betty started fourth grade. In 1941, her mother Dena married Lester Reed, and he adopted Betty and Lamar. Dena gave birth to another son, James Reed.

After Betty graduated from Crown Point High School, she worked for a title company by day and attended classes at Gary Business College in the evening. There she met her future husband, Eldon McKenzie. They married on September 10, 1949, at First Presbyterian Church in Crown Point. They moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where Eldon pursued his master’s degree at Indiana University. Their first home was a mobile home in Bloomington. After Eldon earned his teaching degree, he took a job in Angola, Indiana, where their first son, Eldon, was born. Another teaching job took the family to Battle Creek, Michigan, where sons Scott and John and daughter Dena were born. Seven years later, the family relocated to Indianapolis, where Eldon worked for Warren Central High School. Betty worked many secretarial jobs through the years, including at RCA, where she worked as an executive secretary for fifteen years. Her favorite colors were lavender, purple, and red.

Betty is survived by sons Eldon, Scott, and John McKenzie and daughter Dena Webb (David); four grandchildren, Megan Hart (Billy), Daniel McKenzie, David McKenzie (Amy), and Ian McKenzie; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; brother James Reed; cousin Hank Garland (Bobbie) of Alabama; and cousin Diana Kesler Laclair (Patrick) of Arizona. Brother LaMar Reed and mother Dena Tagg preceded her in death. Betty’s husband, Eldon, died in 1993. Betty was a member of Old Bethel United Methodist Church since 1961.

On Saturday, July 31^st, visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT at Old Bethel United Methodist Church, 7995 E. 21^st Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46219, with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m. at the same location. Pastor Bob McMillen will offer the eulogy. Following the service, some of Betty’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will comprise the procession to the cemetery returning within an hour, while others in attendance are invited to continue celebrating Betty’s life through fellowship while enjoying a meal at Old Bethel provided by her friends at the church. Flowers may be delivered directly to the church on July 31^st by 10 a.m. EDT if possible. Memorial donations may be made to Old Bethel United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements are provided by Flanner Buchanan.