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Richard McKenzie Memorial Photo GalleryMadison County suffered the loss of one of it's beloved Seniors of the Year. Richard McKenzie died Friday evening, June 8th, 2007, after fighting a battle with Congestive Heart Failure. Richard was well known throughout the community as a man of dedication, sincerity, trustworthiness, and filled with love. After servicing a career in law enforcement, he continued serving the community through his dedication to local nonprofits. He volunteered untold hours for the Madison County Senior Citizens Center even long before it moved to its current beautiful facility. He served on its Board of Directors for many terms and continued to assist the center to the end of his life. He taught carving to many people in the community at the center, and his famous wooden flowers decorate many homes today. Richard heard about a group forming to work on the multi-purpose trail across Madison County in 2000. He immediately inquired about what he could do to help. He became a founding Board Director of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails and proudly served in that capacity until his death. When his health was better, he volunteered many hours in clearing brush and picking up trash along the trail. He personally took on a difficult project that no one else wanted - fundraising! He became the organization's undisputed guru of the FMCPT Annual Auction. His final week in life included the execution of another successful Annual Auction. It was through his dedication, consistency, and perseverance that FMCPT raised over $50,000 to help build and maintain the Ohio to Erie Trail corridor through Madison County. In 2004, at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the trail coming to London, the Board of Directors of FMCPT honored Richard and Ruth McKenzie for their contributions to the organization by dedicating The McKenzie Bridge which connects the Senior Center to the trail in a physical way - just like Richard did in a human way. This bridge will even be more special now to the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails as it immortalizes Richard's desire to connect our community to its citizens of all races, religions, and social/economic conditions through the use of a shared linear park across the county, the state, and perhaps our hearts. This outstanding citizen and friend will be dearly missed. Services will be announced in The Madison Press on Monday, June 11th. However, preliminary plans call for arrangements to be at Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home at 103 North Main Street in London, Ohio with viewing on Tuesday afternoon and burial on Wednesday morning. Please check the Press for further details or call the funeral home at 740-852-2345.      |
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