Obituary of Loretta Erma MacKenzie

Nichols, Iowa

Loretta Erma Longstreth MacKenzie, passed away Friday, December 8, 2017 at Lutheran Homes in Muscatine after a short illness.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Nichols Christian Church. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 P.M. at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Memorials may be directed to the Nichols Christian Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at, www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.

Loretta was born January 17, 1926 in Nichols, Iowa the daughter of Ralph and Theresa Ryan Longstreth. She was a graduate of Nichols High School in 1943. Loretta attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. On June 4, 1946 she was united in marriage to Ernest Palmer (Mac) MacKenzie at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nichols.

Loretta was a country school teacher, waitress, Nichols news reporter for the West Liberty Index and gift department manager at Von Maur in Muscatine. Loretta was a prolific reader and writer. She was proud of her Irish heritage and family century farm. Loretta had numerous interests including baking, politics and traveling.

Surviving are two daughters- Mardella (Larry) Brown of Blue Grass, Iowa and Joan (Randy) Moad of Allison, Iowa. Two grandchildren- Tim Brown and Christine Moad, and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Leonard, her husband and infant son Ernest Keith MacKenzie.

Loretta was a compassionate and caring person with a golden heart.