Nina Josephine McKenzie, age 83, of Lewistown, MO, passed away, January 10, in her home, surrounded by loved ones.   

Nina Jo was born March 29, 1938, in LaBelle, Mo., the daughter of the late Mary Alice Rose and Roscoe Andrew Sharpe.  On June 13, 1959, Nina married her best friend and dance partner, John H. McKenzie, Jr., at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ewing, Mo.  They were the first couple to be married in the rebuilt church and continued to share their shining example of love, faith, and fidelity with the church, for the entire 62 plus years of their marriage.  Their union was blessed with nine children:  David (Kim) Mckenzie of Glasgow, Mo., Michael (Barb) McKenzie of St. Peters, Mo., Stephen (Kim) McKenzie of Lewistown, Mo., Joseph (Teresa) McKenzie of Canton, Mo., Carol (Logan) Noecker of Smithville, Mo., Todd (Alicia) McKenzie of Smithville, Mo., Christel (Troy) Roberts of Ewing, Mo., Tamara (Scott) Toliver of Durham, Mo., and Jacob (Rachel) McKenzie of Lewistown, Mo. 

Nina graduated from Ewing High School as the valedictorian, then pursued a degree in Music Education from Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College.  She graduated in 1959, and went on to teach Music in several area schools, including Lewistown, Philadelphia, and Ewing, Mo.  In addition to raising children, and teaching music, she aided her husband in running his business, which he started in 1960.  She was always a whiz with numbers.  She had a beautiful gift of music, and when she played, you would know who it was, just by her distinctive touch and rhythm.  Sharing her musical gift with almost everyone that asked, she taught piano lessons, gave voice lessons, played music for her children’s music programs at school, and played for more weddings and funerals than we can count.  She organized, played, and sang the mass music for Queen of Peace since the young age of 15.  As a young woman, she was a member of the Quincy Symphony Chorus, and later in life, she played and sang for nursing home residents, as a member of the Senior Stars Band.  The only thing greater than Nina’s love of music, was her love of family and God.  She also loved to garden, and cooked wonderfully, delicious meals, often from the fruits of her garden labors.  Anybody that came over, would be welcomed at the table and well fed with food and conversation. She participated in a bowling league for many years, and couldn’t resist a competitive game of Scrabble. She never turned down a game of cards; but she could especially beat you at a mean game of “Nerts,” even though she always said she was “the old cow’s tail.”  She was ever humble, even if she was the most competitive person in the room.  She played basketball in school, played it with her kids, and spent countless hours watching her children and grandchildren at sporting events, often being the most vocal supporter in the crowd.  She also loved a good book and could tell a story to children, like no other.  Reading was the only time Nina was idle, and probably one of the only times that her children could sneak something past her.  Throughout her life, she gave her time to many worthy endeavors, including the Queen of Peace Ladies Sodality, the Lewistown Senior Housing Board, the Lewistown Business Appreciation Day Organization, the Highland Community for Drug Free Youth, the Lewistown Garden Club, Queen of Peace Prayer Group, among others.  She was honored with a Resolution from Missouri House of Representatives for her dedicated service as an organist for Queen of Peace for over 50 years.  She worked hard her entire life, but loved and gave of her gifts with even more fervor.

“Thank you for the music.  Thank you for the song.  Thank you for the liturgy, that moves us all along.  Thank you for the patience, thank you for the charm.  Thank you for the loveliness, and leading us from harm.  Thank you for the kindness, thank you for the love.  Thank you for the open heart that brings us to his love.   Now and then we need help from him, and you have been his song; giving of the gifts he gave to you, the song.  And if our hearts are troubled by dark days, and if our faith begins to fall astray, and if we need some help to walk by faith.  We know his grace is just a song away.”

Survivors, in addition to her husband and children, include 29 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and counting.   She found so much joy with her grandchildren and loved the first one as adoringly as the last.  Her grandchildren are Samantha(Joey) Gibbs, Deborah (Richie) Pond, Nancy (J.J.) Meyer, Gary McKenzie, Andrew (Melissa) McKenzie, Amanda (Joe) Runyon, Shawn, Hannah, and Brittany McKenzie, Matt (Katie) Farr, Shannon and Anne McKenzie, Alexandra (Cody) Gadow, Gabriel (Haleigh) McKenzie, Benjamin McKenzie, Addison, Lukas, and Hayden Noecker, Max and Ella McKenzie, Aiden, Oliver, Isaac, and Margaret Roberts, Gretchen and Rex Toliver, Michael Mutchler, Emma and John McKenzie.  Great grand-children are Miranda Cooper, Raylee and Xavier Gibbs, Ryan, Cory, Maci, and Emmy Pond, Sofia Meyer, Finn McKenzie, Annabelle McKenzie, Evan, Owen, and Noah Runyon, Blaine and Kenzie Gadow, with one more on the way.  She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Gary (Julie) Sharpe of Chesterfield, Mo., and four sisters-in-law, Jeanettia Sharpe, Kathy Sharpe, Winnie McKenzie, and Joyce (Bob) Hail, as well as numerous special nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents and six of her eight siblings along with four of her sibling’s spouses.   Mary F. (Porter) Lillard, John R. (Elizabeth) Sharpe, James V. (Rose) Sharpe, Georgia M. (Bud) Felter, Darrel Sharpe, and Loyd Vincil Sharpe.  She is, also, preceded in death by three of her husband’s siblings; J. Leon McKenzie, Jerry McKenzie, and Clara McDermott.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 14, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Ewing, Missouri by Father Rob Fields.  Burial will be in Queen of Peace Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 4 until 7 PM at the Queen of Peace Catholic Church at Ewing.  A prayer service will lead the visitation.

Memorials may be made to the Queen of Peace Cemetery.

Pallbearers are the firstborn grandsons of each offspring of Nina:  Gary McKenzie, Shawn McKenzie, Matt Farr, Gabe McKenzie, Lukas Noecker, Max McKenzie, Aiden Roberts, Rex Toliver, and Michael Mutchler

Honorary pallbearers include:  Andrew McKenzie, Benjamin McKenzie, Hayden Noecker, Oliver Roberts, Isaac Roberts, and John Rueben McKenzie. 

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