Mary Helen Jones McKenzie

Helen McKenzie (Mary Helen Jones Graham McKenzie), mother of two, grandmother of four, great-grandmother of six, departed this life on June 14, 2015. Her body wore out all at once, like the proverbial one-horse shay. God has taken her home.

Born Mary Helen Jones on September 1, 1917 in Denison, Texas to Marcus Alonzo Jones and Carrie Gill Jones, of Wapanucka, Oklahoma, she and her family later moved to Cache, OK by railcar to escape the mosquitos and malaria then in southeastern OK.

Helen, as she preferred to be called, grew up in Cache and counted Topay, one of Quanah Parker’s wives, as a neighbor and frequent visitor to her childhood home. Helen earned her Associate Degree from Cameron College and taught in a one-room school house.

Helen was married to T. L. “Tom” Graham, of Temple, OK, prior to WW II, giving birth to two children, Vicki Kay and Michael Lynn, after the war. She was a caregiver at heart, caring for her mother, Carrie, her unmarried aunt, Maude Gill, and her widowed sister, Virginia, until their deaths.

Helen was a gentle woman. She loved flowers and animals. Her father was part Choctaw and taught her to appreciate nature and the land. This strong, nurturing spirit continues in her descendants.

In 1987 she married Owen “Mac” McKenzie, finding smiles, laughter, joy, and happiness in her time with him. Both were involved in the Faith Sunday school class at Baptist Temple Church where they each worshiped for many years before and after marriage. While Mac only lived ten years after their marriage, Helen missed him every day for the rest of her life.

Helen was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never hesitating to encourage them to work hard to achieve their best. Her love was always evident.

While grieving the loss, her family is grateful for Helen’s lengthy time here on Earth. They are comforted by the knowledge of the healing of her body and spirit in heaven.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Marcus and Carrie Jones, her aunt, Maude Gill, her sister, Virginia Abbott, her brother-in-law, Claude Abbott, her husband, Owen “Mac” McKenzie, and her son-in-law, J. Leland Gourley.

She is survived by her children, Vicki Clark Gourley of Oklahoma City, OK and Michael L. Graham and wife, June Graham, of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Kelly B. Clark and wife, Jennifer Clark, of Edmond, OK, Brandon Graham Clark, and wife, Stacy Clark, of Edmond, OK, Holly Graham Mitchko and husband, Eric Mitchko, of Raleigh, NC, and Jeffrey Baker Graham, and wife, Jenifer Sy Graham, of Shenzhen, China; great-grandchildren, Graham Allen Clark, Gavin Rogers Clark, Charles Graham Mitchko, Isabel Louise Mitchko, Parker John Easton, and Mia Margaret Easton.

A Memorial Service for Helen’s close friends, family, and recent caregivers will be held on Friday, June 19, 2015 at Memorial Park Cemetery Historic Chapel in Oklahoma City, OK at 11:00 a.m. Contributions in memory of Helen may be made to Community Literacy Centers of Oklahoma City, 5131 N. Classen Circle, #204, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 and to the Baylor Health Care Foundation, Cancer Research, 3500 Gaston, Dallas, TX 75246.