I am thinking of Julie at this time because on October 17, 2008, I bought an etching press which Julie helped me carry from the car to my apartment.

I moved over to an apartment on Chesterfield near Bexley in 2002. I prayed for a quiet, clean, affordable place with a good neighbor. It was a small 4-unit apartment with a large and sunny side yard with an oak tree. Julie was my downstairs neighbor. She was quiet and kept to herself but always had a hello and a smile when we passed each other. Our landlord had empty garden spaces at the front and side of the apartment building. I was planting flowers in the beds one day when Julie came out to inquire about some of the plants. We talked about the advantages of perennials vs. annuals and hit it off. She admired the planter on my side of the landing. I found out her favorite colors and filled a container with flowers for her entryway. She got so much joy from it.

We shared a lot of laughs, coffee, juice bars, conversations, observations and cigarettes - Julie- on the porch. She was a thrifty person who always had a smile on her face. She found joy in simple things. Julie was upbeat about most things and believed in the philosophy that "Life is Good!" She tried to see the good in everyone and everything. She constantly defended the behavior of my bad calico cat Mabel, even after she nipped Julie on the ankle.

I started a new job in January of 2007. My car started having problems a few weeks later. A quirky ignition switch made it a question of the day whether I'd be able to drive my car at 4 a.m. or have to ride my bicycle to work. Until I was able to get an appointment with a mechanic, I had to ride my bike. One morning the rain was coming down in sheets with lightning and thunder. I made a hesitant call to Julie downstairs to ask for a ride. Her reply at 4 in the morning? "Sure, just give me a minute to get dressed." She took me to work in her van and I arrived on time. She picked me up that afternoon and later that evening gave me the keys to the van. "You are welcome to use it until you can get the car fixed." What a gift to me! I was able to meet the attendance requirements for my job and be in good standing. She had a wonderful attitude and was always cheerful and helpful. That is why I made her a choice on a list of activities for my goddaughter. We always have an annual day of adventure together. I make a list of 10 possible things to do and she chooses 2 or 3 from the list. The Julie option was describe as "hang out my with my cool neighbor Julie and walk to Graeter's for ice cream." I drew a picture of Julie with her long blond hair and sunglasses. My goddaughter, Lily wrote back her request of things to do and Julie made it to number 4 on the list! Julie laughed and was thrilled that she made it so high on the chart.

So there I was on October 17 with an etching press in the trunk of my car that took a clerk and myself to load into the car. It was a small etching press but still rather heavy in the packing crate. How was I going to get it from the car to the porch and then up a flight of stairs? Tah-dah! Julie drove up and parked behind my car. We were figuring out a moving strategy when Julie decided to enlist the help of a stranger walking down the street. He was a big strapping guy but he was dressed in a suit. I didn't think he'd be so keen to help me out but Julie had him laughing and smiling about my predicament in seconds. He helped me carry it from the car to the porch while Julie supervised us. Not wanting to take advantage of him, we thanked him for his help and sent him on his way. Julie was tall but had a slim build but between the two of us we managed to get it slowly up the stairs. The hardest part was to not laugh and drop the crate. We finally brought the press to its final resting place. We sighed with relief and started laughing. "This is not how I thought I'd spend my birthday," said Julie.

Julie's birthday and I found an etching press on sale! We had to celebrate! We got dressed up and I took Julie out for dinner. She said I didn't have to but

Sent a gift in memory of Julie Kay McKenzie

Hello ~

My name is Debbie Ickes.  Julie and I began working at Franklin County at 50 E. Mound Street the very same day (9-15-75) in the typing pool.  We immediately became friends...we clicked.  She was just several months older than me and we had a lot in common.  Julie was "my wheels" for the first year until I got my license, running us to the west-side to Taco Bell on our lunch hours in her Firebird.  We "almost" always made it back in time due to the 350, V8 (we both liked to drive fast, but cautiously, too).  I have very fond memories of the fun times we had at work, as well as play.  She grew up on the west-side and me in Pickerington (I learned a lot from the city girl)!  She would come out to Picktown and pick me up and never once complained.  We looked at apartments together, but really never decided on one together.  I spent a lot of nights at her place on Hall Road.  One night, her dog chewed a heel on a new pair of platform shoes I had bought with one of my first paychecks.  She felt really bad and wanted to pay me for them, but no way...accidents happen.  It made for great story telling later : ).  Another night, we were up on campus (OSU) and she took very good care of me when in need (I won't go into detail here, but a once in a lifetime experience).  Again, another story that concerned the Firebird and fun,  and she was still my buddy the next day...we always had each other's backs!  Julie was a girl/woman with great style.  She always had the coolest clothes, boots, jewelry.  We both LOVED sterling silver jewelry and leather handbags and shopped for both together.  I remember Julie had the coolest lamps in her apartment that her Mom bought her for her birthday or Christmas (they were made out of camel bladders, I believe)...way cool!  She and I remained friends for several years, then Julie went to work for the State (we still communicated on occasion).  She was rehired by the county and we reconnected...we always picked up where we left off!  Unfortunately, a lot of years have passed since we had communicated last.

I am deeply saddened to read of her passing...she was much too young, but God must have needed another angel!

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to her Mom, brother and sister.  She spoke to me about all of them, as well as her father.

May God richly bless all of Julie's family and friends during this time of healing.

I would very much like to hear from Julie's family/friends.  My email address is:  dickes1@insight.rr.com.  Thank you, Debbie

OBITUARY

Julie Kay McKenzie

October 17, 1956 – January 3, 2011

Schoedinger Midtown

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