DILLON, SOUTH CAROLINA - Kate Ray McKenzie, 86, of Dillon, South Carolina, widow of Ernest B. McKenzie, died Monday afternoon, March 15, 2010, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence, South Carolina.

Born March 31, 1923, in Dillon County, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Julius D. Ray, Sr. and the late Eva Sanderson Ray. Mrs. McKenzie graduated from Lake View High School (1940) and attended Flora McDonald Business College. She was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church and retired from Clemson Extension Service after 30 years of service. Mrs. McKenzie was a member of the Amaranth for 10 years where she was a former Royal Matron and also a member of the Eastern Star for 48 years where she was a former Worthy Matron. She also performed many hours of volunteer service to McLeod Medical Center as a member of the Volunteer Auxiliary in Dillon. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mattie Louise Ray, and her brother, J. D. Ray, Jr.

Surviving are her son, William Ray Brown and his wife, Betty, of Lake View, South Carolina, and two nieces, Linda Ray and Cynthia Ray, both of Dillon, South Carolina.

A memorial service will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in Piney Grove Baptist Church conducted by The Reverend Greg A. Robertson. Interment will be private.

The family will receive friends after the service in the Church social hall.

Remembrances: Piney Grove Baptist Church – 152 Piney Grove Road, Lake View, South Carolina 29563-5412 or McLeod Hospice – Post Office Box 100551, Florence, South Carolina 29502-0551 or a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family thanks her friends, relatives and Pastor who visited and prayed for her. They also thank her doctors (especially Dr. Vipul Shah), nurses, social workers, hospice chaplain, and hospice house volunteers who helped make her final days on earth as pleasant as possible.