31,
1931
21,
2024
On June 21, 2024 Frances E. McKenzie, loving mother of five children, passed away at the age of 93. She was born in 1931 to Owen and Agatha (Dederich) Wilcox. Frances was a lifelong resident of Madison, attended Central High School, and married David G. McKenzie in 1949. He later died in 1973.
Frances worked many years at Poole's Supper Club where she once waited on Bart Starr and had no idea who he was, or what he did. She also worked in Central Services at the UW Hospital where she retired in 1987. Frances loved her cats, dressing up like Santa Claus at Christmas, and dancing with her Kayra friends on Friday nights. Halloween was her favorite holiday and she got herself into some trouble dressing up on more than one occasion. She spent many days volunteering at school, and with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. She had a passion for gardening, and nothing was more exciting to her than ordering a truckload of black dirt or wood chips. She loved sharing plants with her family and friends. She loved to bake and made the best apple pie and banana bread. She would always say, “Eat dessert first in case you die while eating dinner.”
Frances is survived by her children, Jayne Schwartz, Lisa Abbott, Stephen (Theresa) McKenzie, Jean (Dean) Mancheski, Teresa (Marion Morgan) McKenzie, her nephew Michael Landin who was like a son to her, and her sister Sharon (Mike) Burns. Frances is further survived by her five grandchildren; Gary, Christine, Paul, David and Joseph and a great granddaughter Keeley.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two infant brothers Elwynn and Paul, and three sisters Jeannine McCann, Rosemary Landin, and Karen Wilcox.
The Empty Stocking Club began in 1918 to ensure that every child had a toy to open at Christmas. The Empty Stocking Club was a favorite charity of Frances’ as her family was extremely poor and for many years that toy was the only thing she received for Christmas. If you would care to donate in her name, by mail or online, the information is below.
By mail:
Empty Stocking Club
Wisconsin State Journal
1901 Fish Hatchery Road
Madison, WI 53713
Online:
go.madison.com/stocking
Empty Stocking Club: Providing Toys to Kids Since 1918
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie
(608) 837-9054