Michelle Suzanne McKenzie left this earth for her heavenly home surrounded by her children and family members as she peacefully took her last breath on Sunday, October 28, 2018 after a two-year struggle with breast cancer. Services for Michelle will be at Hill Crest Funeral Home in Haughton, Louisiana on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. Rev. Donnie Underwood of the First Pentecostal Church of Arcadia, Louisiana will officiate the service. The family will welcome friends at a visitation on Thursday, November 1, 2018 from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Hill Crest Funeral Home.
Michelle was born in Fort Riley, Kansas to Lawrence and Barbara McKenzie on November 29, 1954. As part of a military family, she had the opportunity to experience life in many places including Hawaii when it became a state. She also lived in Bangkok, Thailand which she enjoyed very much and celebrated a birthday on the plane to Thailand. Once her family returned to Bossier City she resided in the area for the rest of her life. She was a 1972 graduate of Airline High School.
Michelle was a generous and fun-loving person who never met a stranger and will forever be known for her kind heart and giving spirit. Michelle enjoyed watching old movies and working in the garden, and she loved beautiful flowers and turquoise jewelry. Her children and grandchildren were the light of her life and she was lovingly known as Mawmaw. Michelle told everyone she encountered how proud she was of her children and her granddaughters and each time she came around, she had presents for her girls and sometimes that would be stray pets. Michelle loved babies and pets and they always loved her.
Michelle was a fighter and she fought a courageous battle for the past two years. She did not give up even at the end when the last chemo treatments were too much for her body to handle. As her body was deteriorating due to the cancer she turned to Jesus for peace and comfort. Her granddaughter would hear her in her room watching Jimmy Swaggart, praising the Lord, and clapping her hands since her voice was but a whisper toward the end.
Michelle is preceded in death by her father, Lawrence S. McKenzie, Jr. Michelle is survived by her mother, Barbara Ann McKenzie. She is also survived by her children: Katie and husband, Jeff Crawford, Amanda Byrd, Harlie and wife, Becky O’Neal, and Joey Clayton Cook. Her five granddaughters: Kourtney Crawford, Maggie Crawford, Alyssa Byrd, Madilyn O’Neal and Karlie O’Neal. She is also survived by three siblings: Buster McKenzie, Annette Williford, and Brenda Sinclair. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a multitude of friends also mourn her death.
Serving as pallbearers will be Shane Byrd, Michael Coile, Thomas Crawford, Davis Driskell, Jordan McKenzie, and Jonathan Tarver. The family would like to thank Dr. Christopher Snead and the staff at Christus Cancer Center for their love, care, and support these past two years.
Although she will be greatly missed, Michelle’s loved ones take comfort knowing she is walking the streets of gold, no more suffering, no more pain.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
- 2 Timothy 4:7-8
