Carol Jean McKenzie of Hartsburg, Missouri went to her eternal home in Heaven on Monday, November 17, 2025

Family and friends are invited to Carol's Life Celebration Service at 10:00 AM Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home in Centralia with burial to follow in the Mt. Horeb Cemetery in Sturgeon.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 PM Friday, November 21, 2025 at the funeral home.

On October 26, 1949, Carol Jean Spene was born to Carlo Thomas "C.T." and Anna Belle (Roberts) Spene in Moberly, Missouri. Carol lived all her childhood and teenage years in and near Sturgeon, Missouri. She graduated from all 12 years at Sturgeon R-V Schools in May of 1967. She participated in FHA, Girls Glee Club, Pep Club, and Cheerleading. She received the American Legion Award in 8th grade, a Class 2 rating for Home Economics I at the Scholastic Festival in Kirksville, Missouri in April of her Freshman year, the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Award for 1967, and she was also chosen as the Sturgeon "Echoes" Yearbook Queen in 1967.

All her youth, Carol was active at the Sturgeon Baptist Church having accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in May of 1961. She remained active in Baptist Churches near her home, serving as Sunday School Teacher, Nursery Worker, Vacation Bible School Worker, and other positions when asked.

In 1969 on her parent's wedding anniversary date of May 17th Carol married her teenage sweetheart, Carl Ray McKenzie. After spending Carl's last tour of duty with the United States Air Force in Tucson, Arizona, they spent the rest of their married life in Boone County, Missouri. They had 56 and a half loving years together.

Carol worked in the clerical field most of her adult life except for a few childhood years of their son John Michael McKenzie. After John was older, Carol became a Certified Medical Coder, rejoined the workforce, and later retired in 2008.

She loved being a homemaker with her specialty at baking Molasses Oatmeal Raisin cookies. She also loved flower gardening and was an expert at dipping Peony buds in wax, refrigerating them and then giving them as gifts months later when they opened up to full bloom.

When health issues meant Carol staying home much of the time, she became a wonderful listener, encourager, and prayer warrior for many. She loved spending time with her family and friends and would end up lifting your spirits on many visits whether in person, by phone, or on the Internet.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and an older infant sister Phyllis Anne Spene, her parents-in-law, Walter and Betty McKenzie and one brother-in-law, Lloyd McKenzie.

She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by those that survive her; Husband Carl McKenzie, son John Michael(Emmy) McKenzie, sister Sandy(Ralph, brother-in-law) McKenzie, brother, Kevin (Darla) Spene, brother-in-law, Larry (Betty) McKenzie, sister-in-law, Margaret Smith, brother-in-law, Clifford (Charlene) McKenzie, and sister-in-law, Patricia McKenzie, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Friends of Mt. Horeb and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier St. Centralia, MO 65240.