Bill Joe McKenzie, 84, of Pocola, Oklahoma passed peacefully on April 6, 2022 surrounded by his family. He was born, one of nine children, to Ector McKenzie and Sarah Armer McKenzie on January 14, 1938 in Short, Oklahoma. Bill worked as a diesel mechanic, with his last position being with the Pocola School District their bus mechanic. After retiring he enjoyed spending time hunting and at his cabin. Bill and his late wife Joyce Ann traveled extensively with their friends Buddy and Letha Pope, and enjoyed playing cards with Ronald and Maelene Goins. He was member of Christian Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Pocola.
Bill is survived by his daughter Tanga “Tangie” Luu of Pocola; two sons, Mark McKenzie and his wife Shana of Pocola and Ve Dao and his wife Tracy of Houston, Texas; four sisters, Pearl Mankins of Short, Oklahoma, Mary Atkins of Charleston, Arkansas, Sue Bradford of Uniontown, Arkansas and Rachel Murphy of Cedarville, Arkansas; a sisters-in-law Wanda McKenzie and Clara Treat and a brother-in-law Don Allen Bradshaw; nine grandchildren, Jeremy Luu and his wife Lyndsey, Mindy Beesley and her husband Chad, Dody Luu and his wife Michele, Christopher, Hunter and Landon McKenzie and Michele, Kimberly and Tony Dao; and numerous great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joyce Ann McKenzie; daughter Angie McKenzie Childers; his son Billy Wayne McKenzie; granddaughter Hannah McKenzie; and four brothers, E. C., J.W., Darving “Dean” and Ned McKenzie.
Funeral services will be 1:00pm Monday, April 11, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, with burial following at Seabolt Cemetery in Short, Oklahoma. The family will greet friends from 2:00 to 4:00pm Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Taylor Ralston, Lance and Eugene Bradford, Bryan Dale McKenzie, Audie Murphy and Sonny Small. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne McKenzie, Lonnie Hodges, Anthony McKenzie, Buddy Pope and Ronald Goins.
