Willie Acy McKenzie

Willie was born in Plateau, Alabama, on June 19, 1931. He was the younger of 2 children and graduated from Murphy High School in 1948. After high school, he went to work at International Paper as a millwright, where he developed the strong work ethic that would become one of his best attributes. After 31 years of service, he left International Paper and served as Maintenance Manager at Louisiana Land & Exploration (later Shell Chemical) until his full retirement in 1988.

As with many in his generation, Willie proudly served in the armed forces. He was honorably discharged in 1952 from the United States Army after serving as a military policeman stateside during the Korean War.

While all of his working life was spent in industrial services, he developed a love for carpentry when he was a very young child. Willie eventually became proficient enough to build houses and cabinets in Satsuma, AL for his family as well as others. After retirement, Willie continued working and would build privacy fences, gazebos, decks, shooting stands, furniture, Christmas decorations, and bird houses until age 88. He was also a talented painter and could sketch. There was little he couldn’t do, including college level math and physics. If someone needed something he would engineer it or something needed repair, he would fix it.

Willie was an avid sportsman. He loved hunting ducks and fishing on Mobile Bay as a young man. He later became an excellent deer hunter, using the time to develop lifelong friendships and spending quality time with family. Along with hunting, Willie developed a love for golf, which he played 3-4 times per week for many decades. And there was no doubt that his Alabama Crimson Tide was the best football program ever!

But above all, Willie will be forever defined by his love for family. He went above and beyond as a dad for his three children. He designed and sewed an Azalea Trail Maid dress for one daughter, traveled on his dream vacation to Alaska with his other daughter, and proudly visited his son at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. He also constructed or supervised the construction for each of them a home along the way. He loved his wife of 71 years and fulfilled his vows by taking care of her when she could no longer take care of herself.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, and loyal friend.

He is survived by his three children Lynne McKenzie Astin (Bill) of Laurel, MS, Steve McKenzie (Debbie) of Saraland, and Kristy McKenzie Britt (David) of Saraland. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Doris Nell Free McKenzie, parents, Fleet McKenzie and Hazel Johnson McKenzie, and his sister Alice McKenzie Underwood.

Honoring his wishes, private services were held at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 11:00am, with Cliff Downey officiating. Pallbearers were Garret Garner, Jeff McKenzie, Matthew Faile, Scott Faile, Hayden McKenzie Britt, Bobby Faile, Trent Rutledge, and Donnie Lollar.