Clinton Edward McKenzie

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Clinton Edward McKenzie, 75, Nevada, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, following a brief illness. He was born Sept. 23, 1937, in Boone County, Providence, Mo., to Mauric E. and Vera E. Scott McKenzie. He married Joy Pearline Reed on Aug. 11, 1955, in Nevada, and she preceded him in death on Jan. 19, 2012.

Clinton was reared in Walker. He attended Nevada High School and left school at an early age to join the U.S. Air Force where he was stationed in Sioux Ste. Marie, Mich. After the service and following his marriage to Joy, they moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where Clinton graduated from beauty and barber school. He came back to Nevada in 1963 and started Mr. Clinton's Family Salon which he operated until recently. Clinton also worked with his wife operating Joy's Chicken Inn at the Ponderosa Motel and later relocated to the Mitchell Hotel. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Nevada. In the late 1960s, Clinton filled in as pastor at the Olive Branch Baptist Church, Milo, Mo. He and Joy also raised several foster children.

Survivors include two sons, Ron McKenzie and his wife, Judi, Olathe, Kan., and James McKenzie and his wife, Carleta, Nevada; four grandchildren, Grayson McKenzie, Garrett McKenzie, Grace McKenzie, and Lauren Willis and her husband, Matt; and one great-granddaughter, Lilah Willis. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joy; one brother, Dale McKenzie; and one sister, Virginia Kiger.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Mike Satterlee officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park, Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Vernon County People for Pets or the Vernon County Cancer Relief in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

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