Kenneth S. MacKenzie

Kenneth Sutherland MacKenzie, passed away on October 16, 2024 at the age of 91 in Houston Texas, where he lived for the last 17 months of his life under the watchful eyes of his stepson Stephen Evans and his wife Jane. Ken was born on September 25, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Kenneth H. and Dorothy Melvin MacKenzie. As a child, Ken developed a love for reading that would serve him well throughout his life. One of his favorite pastimes was cutting out articles from the plethora of newspapers and magazines that he read daily and passing them on to his friends and family and with his commanding voice, declare “Here is an interesting article you need to read”.

Ken received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College in 1956. He then went on to attend Columbia University and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 1960, after which he reported for duty with the US Army and served his country for two years in Panama as a Specialist 4. He was honorably discharged in August 1962.

That same year, Ken moved to New Orleans and began an esteemed career as a history teacher at Isadore Newman school. Ken loved history, and particularly enjoyed lecturing on the World War II years. In the summer of 1970, Ken received a Fullbright Fellowship which allowed him to travel to England, India, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. He was fascinated with India, in particular, and was introduced to Prime Minister Indira Ghandi. He remembers her as “one of the most charming women I’ve ever met” and understood why she was so successful in getting things done in her country.

Ken was awarded “Teacher of the Year” in 1974 by the students and faculty of Newman. He nurtured a love for history among his students, many of whom he stayed in touch with throughout his long life. While at Newman, Ken met the love of his life, a fellow teacher who had lost her husband the previous year. Ken married Cleis “Kit” Warford Evans at the end of 1975 and they were married for 47 years at the time of her death in 2022.

In 1983, Ken published his first book “America Challenged-1916-1945” about events leading up to and continuing through World War II. At the time of his death, he had completed 80% of his second book, “Lost Opportunities” which analyzed the decisions made by Generals of World War II that, in effect, prolonged the war instead of bringing it to an earlier end.

After Ken’s retirement from Newman in 2000, he continued to teach history at the college level in both New Orleans (Loyola) and in Dayton Ohio after he and Kit moved there following Hurricane Katrina, to be near daughter, Fran and Jon Hoak. He also immersed himself into expanding his artistic side. Ken was a wonderful painter and spent hours painting landscapes and other meaningful images from his long life. His cherished memories of his family’s summer home in Nova Scotia, where he took each of his grandsons fishing, often found their way to the canvass. He could often be found in his basement painting, while listening to Classical music. 

In addition to his parents, Ken was predeceased by his wife Kit MacKenzie, his sister Barbara MacKenzie Fisher, his nephew Robert Kenneth Fisher and great-granddaughter Kathryn Leigh Thurgaland. Ken is survived by his step-children Gregory Evans (Priscilla), Frances Evans Hoak (Jon) and Stephen Evans (Jane); grandchildren, Geoffrey Evans (Amy), Grant Evans (Erin), Bradley Evans (Brittany), Jonathan Evans (Kathryn), Michelle Evans Shappee (Will), Todd Thurgaland (Jodell) and 9 great-grandchildren.

Ken is also survived by nieces Elizabeth Fisher Anton and Emily Olson-Fisher and numerous extended family and friends.

As a man of deep faith, Ken was a member of Rayne United Methodist Church while living in New Orleans, LA and Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, OH where he served as a church Elder for many years. A funeral service for Ken will be held at 9:30am on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at David’s Cemetery Chapel, 4600 Mad River Rd, Dayton, OH 45429. Burial at David’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering, OH, or Rayne Memorial Methodist Church in New Orleans, LA.