LOIS KERNAGHAN MACKENZIE (PARKHILL)

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LOIS KERNAGHAN MACKENZIE (PARKHILL) On July 1, 2000 after a year long battle with leukemia Lois Parkhill Mackenzie passed away at the Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville, Ontario. Lois was the adored wife of John P.S. Mackenzie and dearly loved sister of Ann King, London, Ontario and Roy Parkhill, Winnipeg. Lois was born in Winnipeg in 1927 to Roy and Isobel Parkhill. She grew up in Winnipeg and attended Riverbend School and became "Head Girl" and then attended the University of Manitoba. She graduated from McGill University. One of her most challenging summer jobs was selling magazine subscriptions with her sister Ann through all the large Grain Elevators in Thunder Bay. Lois had a varied and interesting career writing for the Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Tribune and Readers Digest. She hosted a television show for Winnipeg CBC, did research for "This Hour Has Seven Days" and worked in New York and Geneva for the original League of Nations. She wrote a book called "Old Ontario Farmhouses." Her many interests included the Shaw Festival, the Toronto Zoo and Smile Theatre. She and Jack were ardent bird watchers and had many bird watching trips to Central America and elsewhere around the world. "Auntie Lolo" was the devoted and dearly loved aunt to her nieces and nephews and their children. She is survived by Debbie Young, Lisa Dietrich, Geoffrey and Andrew King, Tara Brousseau, Tim, Ted and Jeffrey Parkhill. She is also survived by Jacks family John, Chip and Carolyn. Her family and many friends will miss her "try anything" attitude, her sense of humour, her laughter and her great wit. She was a remarkable character and will be remembered by those who knew her well. A celebration of Lois life will take place in Toronto in mid September.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2000