Alma Pearl McKenzie

Article Last Updated; Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:53AM

McKenzie

Former Durango resident Alma Pearl McKenzie died from complications of Alz-heimer’s disease at Vista Mesa Assisted Living Residence in Cortez on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. She was 93.

Mrs. McKenzie was born at home in Cortez to Archer Henry and Verna Eileen (Sprague) Walters on May 27, 1916. Her family had been pioneers in Montezuma County.

She graduated from Cortez High School in 1933, where she excelled at music and English. She won first place as a soprano vocalist several years in the regional Fine Arts Competition in Durango. Her family said she never lost her love of music and dancing.

In 1934, she met Merritt Leslie McKenzie of Durango at Wilson’s Drug Store in Cortez. On April 20, 1935, the couple married at the home of Tilton and LoVista Macy in Durango.

The next year, the McKenzies bought their first home, which was in Animas City. In 1943, they moved two miles down the valley to their home on East Third Avenue in Durango, where they lived for 60 years.

Mrs. McKenzie was a member of Methodist Church of Cortez from 1916 to 1935 and the United Methodist Church of Durango from 1935 to 2009. As a founding member of the Methodist Thrift Shop, she volunteered there for many years.

Her family said Mrs. Mc-Kenzie was a talented seamstress, making prom dresses, church vestments and wedding dresses.

Mrs. McKenzie was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Merritt McKenzie, in 1995.

She is survived by her daughters Kathy McKenzie of Durango and Julie Campbell of Alamosa; son, Jerry McKenzie, of Cortez; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one nephew.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at First United Methodist Church of Durango, 2917 Aspen Drive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to La Plata County Historical Society, P.O. Box 3384, Durango, CO 81302.