Patricia Irene (Pat) Hanley McKenzie, 95, of Twin Falls, ID passed away in Twin Falls on March 16, 2026. Her family and friends were by her side.
Pat was born in Jasonville, IN to Roy Lee and Bessie Ruth Hanley. She was the second of four children. During her childhood her family lived in various towns in southern Illinois, including Robinson, Palestine, West York and Hutsonville.
Pat graduated from Hutsonville High School in 1949. After graduation she enrolled in the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago IL. She was very fortunate to be sponsored to the school by a local Hutsonville businessman. Upon completing her studies, she became a registered nurse.
During her time as a nurse in Chicago she met the love of her life James “Bill” McKenzie at church. Bill had recently been discharged from the United States Navy and was attending an electrical school in the Chicago area. After completing his schooling Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force and was assigned to a US Air Force base in England. Pat and Bill continued their courtship, and upon his return they were joined in matrimony in Palestine, IL on July 11th, 1953.
As a military spouse she played a vital role in supporting Bill and sharing in the many sacrifices that occurred over the many years of Bill’s career. As a critical part of a military family, she often experienced frequent relocations, deployments, geographical separations, unpredictable work schedules, and regularly assumed the role of primary caregiver.
In 1954, Pat and Bill were joined by their daughter Holly Jo. The family spent the next several years living in places such as Savannah, GA, Amarillo, TX, Rantoul, IL, and Sacramento, CA. Pat and Holly spent time in Palestine during many of Bill’s unaccompanied assignments. During these times Pat worked in a doctor’s office and was a full-time wife and mother. Several years later Bill and Pat added their son and brother Cameron Hanley (Cam) to the McKenzie family.
Bill’s last duty station was at Fort Campbell, KY and upon his retirement the family moved to Crofton, KY. Pat began volunteering in Cam’s 1st grade classroom at Sinking Fork Elementary School, which led to a full-time teacher’s aide position there. Pat loved her time and friends at Sinking Fork, and spent over 20 years there before retiring.
She and Bill enjoyed their retirements and began to travel the United States visiting friends and family, but Bill’s passing in 2000 changed her life. She moved from Crofton, KY to Twin Falls, ID to be with Cam and her grandson Reed. During this time, she was instrumental in helping raise Reed, and was a “soccer Grandma” to his friends and teammates. She was also a “bonus Grandma” for the children of many friends and neighbors, and eventually for Cheri’s (her daughter-in-law) children.
During this period, she also enjoyed travelling to visit loved ones and friends, be it Holly and Joe in Virginia, her niece Stacy in Texas, relatives in Indiana, or friends in Kentucky.
Pat was kind, loving, and accepting of all those around her. She was an independent person, and lived on her own until she became ill a few months before her passing.
She was a caregiver in life, whether professionally as a nurse and teacher’s aide, or personally as a wife, mother, and grandmother. In her later years she was content to spend time with her family, was an avid reader, watched many of her favorite TV shows, enjoyed watching UK basketball, and was always ready to play “one” game of Yahtzee after supper at Cam and Cheri’s home.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband Bill McKenzie, parents Roy and Bessie Hanley, sister (and best friend) Phyllis Anderson, and brothers Wilfred and Dennis Hanley. She was also preceded by many close friends.
Pat is survived by her children Holly (Joe) Guzowski and Cam (Cheri) McKenzie; grandchildren Reed McKenzie, Gus (Bri) Kober, and Challis (Wyatt) Doyle; and great-grandchildren Isaac, Shiloh, Henry, Georgia, and August Kober, and Stanley Doyle.
A memorial service was held for Pat on March 20 in Twin Falls, ID. A short service and burial will take place at noon on March 27 at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, KY.
The family thanks all the caregivers who aided Pat in her final months, including the staff at Chardonnay Assisted Living for their care in her final days. We also thank her friends Jessica Kluth and Nikki Kroese for their love and support of her.
Donations in Pat’s memory can be made to the Sinking Fork Elementary School Youth Service Center or the Christian Co. Public Schools Education Foundation.
