Lee Mckenzie

She was born in Columbia, South Carolina on October 31, 1944, to John and Eloise McKenzie (Summers). Lee was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Henry Davis Fleming, and her husband Roger Scheel. She is survived by her children, Davis, Matthew (Lindsay), and W. Oscar (William), her siblings Patricia, John, and Eloise, and her grandchildren Mary Madison, Matthew, Aidan, Nathan, and Riverlyn.

Lee is also survived by many dear friends and neighbors for whom she had carried great love for many years.

Lee spent her childhood growing up in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina with her siblings, having music lessons, playing with family pets, being involved at the United Methodist Church, and enjoying visits to Grandmother McKenzie’s house in Rockingham. After graduating from East Surry High School where she was an active cheerleader, Lee wanted to study drama. She ended up attending Greensboro College and graduated as a music major. She played guitar, piano, and sang.

In 1964 Lee was crowned Miss Pilot Mountain and received the title of Honorable Mention, Miss North Carolina. She was forever proud, if slightly embarrassed by that experience. She was always a beauty queen at heart, aware of how she looked and how she would like to be perceived. This was no small burden–she was almost always “on.” She deflected the spotlight and shared it. In doing so she made life brighter for everyone else.

After this achievement, her family and work adventures began. Lee was a very involved, nurturing, and loving mother. She filled the house with music. She embodied her southern roots by treating her boys to her delicious chicken and dumplings. She coached sports teams, attended their performances, and school functions. Her voice could often be heard over the crowd saying, “That’s my boy.”

Lee lived in seven states over the course of her life and even more cities. From Houston to Chicago to Danville, she took life in stride with grace and courage. Lee worked in a variety of positions over the years. Her most cherished work role was at Okuma where she was responsible for hospitality and sales support. She enjoyed putting together special gatherings and celebrating others with milestone gifts. Spending so many years away from North Carolina was hard for her, so much so that when she saw a North Carolina license plate in, say, Illinois, she was known to follow that driver until they stopped so she could say, “Hey.” Frequently enough, she would know someone in common with them!

In 1993 she returned to North Carolina, settled in Charlotte, and would live out her days with family and friends in Mint Hill. Lee was an active part of the Levine Senior Center for many years. She and her best friend Marie Ball led the charge for special events, performances, a band of cheerleaders, and so much more. She and Marie referred to themselves as Thelma and Louise, which is very fitting. They were adventurous, edgy, and fiercely devoted to one another. They loved giving golf-cart tours uptown with Queen City Rides, which earned them a spot on the local news. They never passed up a chance to toast one another with a glass of white zinfandel, sing karaoke, or watch the Carolina Panthers at Heff’s Bar & Grill.

She was always the ringleader for family gatherings and special occasions. For her 80th birthday in 2024, her family organized a ceilidh (a traditional Scottish gathering) to honor her lifetime of caring for others, complete with singing, dancing, and a bagpiper. Lee was very proud of her Scottish heritage and reveled in the Outlander series.

Lee was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020. From that time on she began forging special connections at Levine Cancer Institute. She was wonderfully cared for in every way by their entire team. She boldly committed to her treatment and had a few wonderful years of remission. In this time, she cared for her beloved pets, enjoyed life with her girlfriends, read many book series, loved special playtime with her grandchildren at home, and celebrated Christmas with all the rigor she had to spare.

Lee had a zeal for life. Her children describe her as strong-willed and emotional, critical and loving, sensitive yet willing to forgive. Her sacrificial love and hard work taught them the value of love. In the cherished words of Clan McKenzie of Scotland, Luceo non uro: she shined not burned.

Memorials may be made to Safe Animal Haven: safeanimalhaven.org/donate

Details on a Celebration of Life will be forthcoming.