Dr. James Calvin McKenzie

James Calvin McKenzie, age 85, was born May 24, 1938 in Hollis, Oklahoma to Charlie & Elva McKenzie. He passed away at home in Norman, Oklahoma on March 14, 2024. He and his beloved wife, Lula Fay, raised their family and had made Norman their home for more than 70 years.

James was the youngest of three children. His big brother, Coy Harlan, whom he always looked up to and his sister, Dolores, who died as a young child on their farm in Hollis. They didn't have much growing up in western Oklahoma. They grew cotton, harvested their fields and picked up occasional work at Mr. Heath's scrapyard for a nickel a day. He learned that hard work and thrift were necessary to survive. His grandfather died young in the Spanish flu epidemic and James' dad had to quit school at age 10 to go to work himself. James' dad became a barber and took the family from the farm to Ft. Sill to cut hair, then on to Norman to the old navy base to Barber there as well. James ran a paper route as a kid and was quite an athlete playing many sports. He played on the 1955 State Champ basketball team at Norman High School and was third baseman for the NHS baseball team. James was a devoted OU sports fan and attended many games over the years.

James met the love of his life, Lula Fay Morris, on a blind date set up by their good friend Carol Byars and dad's cousin, Donnie. They went on a double date to a drive-in movie and he was smitten. He graduated NHS in the class of 1956. James pursued a degree at the University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1961 with a B.S. In electrical engineering. While at OU he took a job with Dorsett Labs working on the conversion from vacuum tubes to transistors. He was in the OU Army ROTC program and upon graduation, James became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. James and Lu were married and moved to Ft. Monmouth, NJ for the Signal Corps Officer course. They were only there two months before James received orders for Germany in support of the Berlin Blockade in 1961. James remarked that once they were in Germany and the “Russians realized they were going to have to fight for Berlin” things settled down and James was joined by his wife to complete his Army tour in Heidelberg as a microwave radio officer on the Konigstuhl.

Once re-deployed stateside, many military members left the service during a reduction in forces which led James to accept a position with General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. While employed as a design engineer on the F1-11 jet, he was afforded the opportunity to attend Southern Methodist University and TCU in night school earning a Master of Science in Engineering Administration in 1966 from SMU. He was an early member of the “Association of Old Crows” in 1966. He obtained his Registered Professional Engineer license in 1967 in Texas.

James & Lu returned to Norman to be closer and help care for their parents in 1968. He then went to work at Tinker Air Force base as a Project Engineer on the Radiosonde program. Four years later he moved over to the Federal Aviation Administration until retirement of over 40 years combined military and civil service. He taught in the Air Route Control Center as an Aeronautical Electrical engineer and had many other roles in his long career. He served several terms as President of the Cleveland County Chapter of NARFE (Nat'l Active and Retired Federal Employees).

Always learning, James continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, earning his Ph.D. in Education in 1986.

James was blessed to have a devoted Christian Mother who taught him the love of the Lord. He looked for opportunities his whole life to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. He devoted his life to church work as a song leader, Deacon and Elder. He and Lu enjoyed a mission trip to Brazil and it was his joy to faithfully spend time in Christian work and benevolence. James' Bible class which he taught 50 years ago at the old Central Church of Christ maintained contact even recently for periodic reunions. He was a charter member of the Alameda Church of Christ.

James and his brother, Coy Harlan, got into pigeons when they were just kids. He was hooked. Raising, breeding, exhibiting and judging pigeons was an important and rewarding hobby for James for more than 70 years. He received the American Giant Homer Association (AGHA) Master breeder award in 1982, the National Pigeon Association (NPA) Master Breeder award, The American Giant Homer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, which was only the second lifetime award given in the Associations 86 year history. He was also in the AGHA Hall of Fame. He was one of the very first Oklahoma exhibitors in the Oklahoma Giant Homer Futurity and was still active. He held many positions in the AGHA, including President multiple times over the years. He absolutely loved the pigeon community making so many friends along the way. His birds were highly prized and breeders from as far away as Hungary and Turkey requested his Giant Homers.

James was a humble, generous and kind Christian man. He thought every day of what he could do for someone else. He will be missed by all of his family and friends and all of the groups to which he belonged. From his early morning coffee group, to his Church family, to the Pigeon breeders and his new friends at the senior “wellness' center. Dad, you are with Mother and safe in the arms of Jesus for all of eternity.

James is survived by his children, one son, John McKenzie and wife Mikyong of Eldorado Hills, CA one daughter, Kathleen (McKenzie) Stone and husband Andy Stone of Albuquerque, NM, four grandsons Andrew Stone, Jr. and wife Kaylie of Midland, TX, Hardy Stone of Hanover, MD, James McKenzie of Eldorado Hills, CA and John McKenzie and wife Marissa Veldman of Pittsburgh, PA, four granddaughters, Courtney Stone and fiance Will Denton of Brooklyn, NY, Madeleine Stone of Southern Pines, NC, Ashley McKenzie of Leander, TX and Michelle McKenzie of Eldorado Hills, CA; two great grandsons, Henry and Hunter Berkenhoff and three great granddaughters, Elanor and Eden Stone and Juniper McKenzie; and a number of cherished brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his parents Charlie & Elva McKenzie, his beloved wife of 57 years, Lula Fay, his brother Coy Harlan McKenzie, his sister Dolores McKenzie.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. On Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Alameda Church of Christ at 801 Alameda St., Norman, OK 73071. Visitation on Thursday March 28, 2024 at Primrose Funeral Home, 1109 N Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. And, the 27th & 28th during business hours. Interment will occur at Resthaven Memorial Gardens at 500 SW 104th St., Oklahoma City, OK, 73170.