Obituary for Doris McKenzie (Tilley)
Doris Ann Tilley McKenzie passed away January 7 at the Gardens of Taylor Glen in Concord NC. Doris was born in Rainelle, WV to Claude and Eula Tilley. She is survived by her twin sister Dora Lee Campbell of Shelby and her children J.C. McKenzie (Pam) of Concord and Christie McKenzie Hopper (Doug) of Gaffney and 3 grandchildren – Heather Jarvis, Jason McKenzie (Hannah) and Matthew McKenzie (Crystal) and two great-grandchildren.
Doris attended Lookout HS in Lookout, WV and Concord College in Athens, WV. During WW2 she along with her mother and female siblings lived in New Jersey where they worked in a cannery supporting the war effort and their families.
After the war mom worked for several years as a legal secretary and later, after she had raised her children, worked for many years as a teacher assistant in a reading lab in the public schools. She was extremely proud of the impact to their young students.
Curtis and Doris were married in Princeton WV on October 14, 1950. They relocated their young family to the Richmond area in 1960 and then to the Greenville SC area in 1964. As their health deteriorated, they relocated to Concord and the Gardens of Taylor Glen.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years Curtis, and four siblings.
Mom was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who worked tirelessly for her family, friends, and church. Mom was very proud of her husband, her children and especially her grandchildren, and cherished them all. She was always willing to help anyone in need and there seemed to always be someone living in our home who she was attempting to help get out of harm’s way and on their feet.
She loved living on our farm in Fountain Inn SC where she helped in dad’s large garden, canned, and cooked for whoever was there. She loved to fish in the small lakes on the farm although she rarely caught anything. She was intelligent, outspoken, a devout Christian, and unwavering in her convictions. Also a devout, lifelong Republican it is believed she only cast one vote for a Democrat.
The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at the Gardens of Taylor Glen for their compassionate and loving care the last 12 years but especially in mom’s last days.
A private memorial for the family will be held at a later date.
In remembrance of her and dad the family requests any memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. at alz.org.
Doris attended Lookout HS in Lookout, WV and Concord College in Athens, WV. During WW2 she along with her mother and female siblings lived in New Jersey where they worked in a cannery supporting the war effort and their families.
After the war mom worked for several years as a legal secretary and later, after she had raised her children, worked for many years as a teacher assistant in a reading lab in the public schools. She was extremely proud of the impact to their young students.
Curtis and Doris were married in Princeton WV on October 14, 1950. They relocated their young family to the Richmond area in 1960 and then to the Greenville SC area in 1964. As their health deteriorated, they relocated to Concord and the Gardens of Taylor Glen.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years Curtis, and four siblings.
Mom was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who worked tirelessly for her family, friends, and church. Mom was very proud of her husband, her children and especially her grandchildren, and cherished them all. She was always willing to help anyone in need and there seemed to always be someone living in our home who she was attempting to help get out of harm’s way and on their feet.
She loved living on our farm in Fountain Inn SC where she helped in dad’s large garden, canned, and cooked for whoever was there. She loved to fish in the small lakes on the farm although she rarely caught anything. She was intelligent, outspoken, a devout Christian, and unwavering in her convictions. Also a devout, lifelong Republican it is believed she only cast one vote for a Democrat.
The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at the Gardens of Taylor Glen for their compassionate and loving care the last 12 years but especially in mom’s last days.
A private memorial for the family will be held at a later date.
In remembrance of her and dad the family requests any memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. at alz.org.