Rita Sue Mckenzie

Sue Rowley McKenzie

"Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years." Rita Sue Rowley McKenzie, age 81, passed away on May 21, 2013 following a faithful life of nurturing others, sustained by her Faith, Family and Friends.
Born October 11, 1931 in Akron to the late John G. and Helen Rowley, Sue attended King School, graduated cum laude from Old Trail School in 1949 and matriculated to Wellesley College. At Wellesley, Sue was a member of the Tau Zeta Epsilon Art & Music Society, and as a senior served as her House President and was one of five classmates chosen for the Tree Day Mistress Court. She was graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English.
She returned to Akron and worked for the East Ohio Gas Company, while obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Akron. Sue taught 2nd Grade at Fairlawn Elementary School prior to raising her family, and thereafter returned to her love of working with children as a Learning Disabilities Tutor at Case Elementary School until her retirement.
Sue was an active community volunteer through and including the Junior League of Akron, Akron General Medical Center, Old Trail School, The Akron Wellesley Club and the First Congregational Church of Akron, where she worshipped for over 50 years. She enjoyed being a member of the Diggers and Weeders Garden Club, the Pine Valley Golf Club Swingers, her Bridge Clubs (including "the Bridge Club that doesn't play Bridge") and the Akron Woman's City Club.
She was preceded in death by her ever lovin' Bud (husband James W. Sr.) in 2005, and is survived by her devoted daughter, Meg of Norton, OH; sons, John and Susan of Hudson, OH, and Jim and Mimi of Philadelphia, PA; six grandchildren, Jake, Gus, Lydie, Addie, Jack and Hannah McKenzie; sister, Ann and Jim Rutherford of Chatham, NJ; cousin, Marilyn Carr; sister-in-law, Jean and Eric Anderson of Akron; five nieces and nephews and their families; and her lifelong dear friends from Old Trail and Wellesley, along with their children who loved her as Aunt Sue.
Warm thanks to Sue's wonderful caregivers over the past 2½ years - Lori, Sue, Tami, Patty and the late Irene.
The family will hold a private burial. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Akron on a June date to be announced. Memorials may be directed to the McKenzie Family Fund for Teacher Continuing Education at Old Trail School, P.O. Box 827, bath, OH 44210 or to Kate's Voice, providing music therapy for special needs children, P.O. Box 365, Sudbury, MA 01776. To share a Memory, (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)