Suzanne Jones McKenzie

Suzanne was born in Sanford, FL, the first child of Clarence Otis “Dick” Jones and Joyce Adams Jones. She graduated from Seminole High School with the class of 1961 and went on to study first at Lander College (now University) on a voice scholarship and then at Florida State University.

Suzanne met Ellsworth “Sandy” Bassett while working at his Maitland law firm as an administrator and the two subsequently married. Suzanne became a stepmom to Doug and Cindy Bassett when she married Sandy, and she and Sandy had a son, Joshua Pope Bassett. Her efforts as his campaign manager helped him secure election to the Florida House of Representatives. During their years together, Suzanne was instrumental to the development and administration of their title search company, Abstracts Automated, which she continued to run after it was acquired by a local law firm.

Suzanne later married James McKenzie, forming a partnership for over 30 years. Suzanne worked together with Jim for many years in the advertising business as a copywriter for McKenzie Design Group, a copywriter and presenter for new business at Greenstone, Roberts and McKenzie, and co-creative director for McKenzie and MacMahon. She was a longstanding member of the Southeast Tourism Association, and was a multiple winner of industry awards for her copywriting, including the American Advertising Federation’s “Addy” awards. Later in life Suzanne made her long-standing passion for cooking and hospitality “official” by training as a chef at the Florida Culinary Institute in Palm Beach, FL, where she graduated at the top of her class and earned the nickname “Sparkler” from fellow students. Her culinary education culminated in training in French cuisine at the Institut Paul Bocuse in Ecully, France.

Suzanne was gifted with an operatic voice and a prodigious green thumb. Flowers and vegetables nurtured in her garden invariably flourished, and every animal who ever came into her care lived its best life. She was vivacious, creative, and full of wonder for the world. She loved travel, and remained a curious observer and voracious reader until the end. She was a gracious hostess and a generous and loyal friend, quick to come to the aid of those going through hard times.

Suzanne is survived by her son Joshua and stepchildren Doug and Cindy, sister Robin Jones Theisen, nieces Lori Fileger Butler and Christine Fileger Floyd, nieces Emily Wells and Olivia Theisen, step-grandchildren Erica and Evan Bassett, and great nieces Sarah and Lily Butler, Cayla, Chloe, and Cara Floyd, her great nephew Calvin Floyd, and the last of her many beloved cats through the years, Socrates.