Cassie McKenzie passed from this life in the early morning hours of October 3, 1983 at her Wurtland, KY residence. Her death certificate lists her cause of death as heart failure.
Mrs. McKenzie was the daughter of the late Russell Riffe and Maudie Baldrige Riffe. She was preceded in death by an infant son, James Russell McKenzie.
Cassie was survived by her husband James Franklin McKenzie, a son John Edwin McKenzie, and a daughter Vivian McKenzie all of Wurtland, KY.
Mrs. McKenzie was also survived by her brothers: Robert Riffe, Jimmy Riffe, Walter Riffe, Eddie Riffe, John B Riffe, and Leck Riffe; and her sisters Hester Mae Riffe Wilburn and Louraine Riffe Riley.
Her funeral service was held at Evan's Funeral Home in Raceland, KY. Officiating was Reverend Bennie Grizzle and Reverend Ray Williams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This page was created and maintained by my brother John until his death Oct. 16, 2006. Rest in Peace my dear brothers and parents, I love you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was taken from our family bible that I inherited from my brother John.~
James Franklin McKenzie and Cassie Evelyn Riffe were united in marriage on June 7, 1958 at Mr. and Mrs. Doliver Stewart's residence by Minister Arnold Pennington. Witnesses were Doliver Stewart and Maudie Riffe the brides mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has taken me quite a while to sit here and edit this page.
Cassie Evelyn Riffe McKenzie was my Mom. She was one of 10 children. 9 of whom survived to adulthood. They were simple county people with huge hearts. My Mom having the largest heart of all of them. Growing up in a holler with well water, an outhouse and no electricity was hard. She loved her family and they made the best of what they had.
Mom was an epileptic. At the age of 9 one of her brother's hit her in the head with a large rock. (I've heard conflicting stories about this, some said it was on purpose, some said not.) Not long after wards she started having grand mal seizures. They were severe and usually lasted a long time. Dad fell in love with her anyway :)
My parents married June 7, 1958. June 21, 1960 my brother James was born 2 1/2 months premature. My parents painfully watched as their first born child struggled to breathe. He died at the age of 3 days old. January 14, 1962 Mom gave birth to their second son, John Edwin. Once again they watched as their beautiful little boy struggled to live. He spent his first few months in the hospital before they finally got to bring him home. On May 20, 1965 they had a daughter Vivian Alice, me. On May 23 Mom suffered a seizure while riding in Dad's pickup truck with me in her arms. She somehow managed to open the door and we both went rolling out, down and over. We fell right about the time Dad was going around a curve which thankfully caused
the truck to move away from us. We ended up over an embankment. Mom suffered enough injuries that she had to return to the hospital. They allowed me to go along to keep her company.
Mom had a lot of accidents over the years. I have a vivid memory that of her heating an iron kettle of water over a fireplace. Her dress caught fire. John and I started screaming and Dad rushed in and put her out. Another stay in the hospital.
Mom never had an automatic washer. She used a Maytag wringer washer until it wore out. Just before it gave way Dad had to wire the wringers together. They had a safety mechanism which caused the 2 rollers in the wringer to pop open if something of a certain size (like a hand) went into it. Sure enough... One day when Mom was washing clothes she suffered a seizure and her hand went into the wringer. I was standing in front of her when it started. I still remember the horror when I realized the rollers were wired together. She suffered a broken arm.
Her last serious injury came about as the result of having a seizure while in our small bath room. As she convulsed one of her feet repeatedly kicked the pedestal sink. She suffered several broken bones. The night before she died she was at the hospital once again because of re breaking her foot.
On October 3, 1983 I woke up around 8 am. I walked down the hall way, looked over toward my parents room and saw the bed hadn't been slept in. (Dad was in the hospital. Mom and I were home alone) I still remember my heart skipping a beat and the fear I felt. Just a few steps later and I saw her. She was laying half on and half off the sofa. I could tell she had a seizure. I also knew she didn't "look right". I kept calling her name. She didn't answer. I finally reached down to touch her and knew at that moment she was gone. She hadn't been gone long... she was still warm.
We were all devastated. Especially John. If you look in the dictionary for the term "Momma's Boy" you just might find a picture of my brother. They had a very special relationship. After all, he was her second son but the first to come home. They watched television together all of the time. They played games. They talked. She seemed to understand John more than anyone else. They had a wonderful bond and a great love. I, on the other hand was Daddy's little girl. We had a very close and tight knit family. It was the 4 of us in 840 square feet. You had no choice but the be close. :)
My brother and I didn't have much growing up but we certainly had love. The greatest gift of all. We were blessed with 2 wonderful parents. On Oct. 3, 1983 John was 21 and I was 18. He was never the same...
October 22, 1983 I gave birth to Mom's first grand child, Laura Emily. 19 days after Mom went to Heaven. Mom now has 5 children, Laura, Brandon, Jacob, Cassie and Rodham. Three great grandchildren, Morgan, Logan and Gavin. This amazing woman produced 8 beautiful "grands" and never got to hold any of them.
It is my prayer, my wish and my dream that we will all get to meet in heaven. God Bless you Mom. He blessed me by allowing me to have 18 short but cherished years with you. Until we meet on the other side, your loving and devoted daughter... Vivian
Mrs. McKenzie was the daughter of the late Russell Riffe and Maudie Baldrige Riffe. She was preceded in death by an infant son, James Russell McKenzie.
Cassie was survived by her husband James Franklin McKenzie, a son John Edwin McKenzie, and a daughter Vivian McKenzie all of Wurtland, KY.
Mrs. McKenzie was also survived by her brothers: Robert Riffe, Jimmy Riffe, Walter Riffe, Eddie Riffe, John B Riffe, and Leck Riffe; and her sisters Hester Mae Riffe Wilburn and Louraine Riffe Riley.
Her funeral service was held at Evan's Funeral Home in Raceland, KY. Officiating was Reverend Bennie Grizzle and Reverend Ray Williams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This page was created and maintained by my brother John until his death Oct. 16, 2006. Rest in Peace my dear brothers and parents, I love you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was taken from our family bible that I inherited from my brother John.~
James Franklin McKenzie and Cassie Evelyn Riffe were united in marriage on June 7, 1958 at Mr. and Mrs. Doliver Stewart's residence by Minister Arnold Pennington. Witnesses were Doliver Stewart and Maudie Riffe the brides mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has taken me quite a while to sit here and edit this page.
Cassie Evelyn Riffe McKenzie was my Mom. She was one of 10 children. 9 of whom survived to adulthood. They were simple county people with huge hearts. My Mom having the largest heart of all of them. Growing up in a holler with well water, an outhouse and no electricity was hard. She loved her family and they made the best of what they had.
Mom was an epileptic. At the age of 9 one of her brother's hit her in the head with a large rock. (I've heard conflicting stories about this, some said it was on purpose, some said not.) Not long after wards she started having grand mal seizures. They were severe and usually lasted a long time. Dad fell in love with her anyway :)
My parents married June 7, 1958. June 21, 1960 my brother James was born 2 1/2 months premature. My parents painfully watched as their first born child struggled to breathe. He died at the age of 3 days old. January 14, 1962 Mom gave birth to their second son, John Edwin. Once again they watched as their beautiful little boy struggled to live. He spent his first few months in the hospital before they finally got to bring him home. On May 20, 1965 they had a daughter Vivian Alice, me. On May 23 Mom suffered a seizure while riding in Dad's pickup truck with me in her arms. She somehow managed to open the door and we both went rolling out, down and over. We fell right about the time Dad was going around a curve which thankfully caused
the truck to move away from us. We ended up over an embankment. Mom suffered enough injuries that she had to return to the hospital. They allowed me to go along to keep her company.
Mom had a lot of accidents over the years. I have a vivid memory that of her heating an iron kettle of water over a fireplace. Her dress caught fire. John and I started screaming and Dad rushed in and put her out. Another stay in the hospital.
Mom never had an automatic washer. She used a Maytag wringer washer until it wore out. Just before it gave way Dad had to wire the wringers together. They had a safety mechanism which caused the 2 rollers in the wringer to pop open if something of a certain size (like a hand) went into it. Sure enough... One day when Mom was washing clothes she suffered a seizure and her hand went into the wringer. I was standing in front of her when it started. I still remember the horror when I realized the rollers were wired together. She suffered a broken arm.
Her last serious injury came about as the result of having a seizure while in our small bath room. As she convulsed one of her feet repeatedly kicked the pedestal sink. She suffered several broken bones. The night before she died she was at the hospital once again because of re breaking her foot.
On October 3, 1983 I woke up around 8 am. I walked down the hall way, looked over toward my parents room and saw the bed hadn't been slept in. (Dad was in the hospital. Mom and I were home alone) I still remember my heart skipping a beat and the fear I felt. Just a few steps later and I saw her. She was laying half on and half off the sofa. I could tell she had a seizure. I also knew she didn't "look right". I kept calling her name. She didn't answer. I finally reached down to touch her and knew at that moment she was gone. She hadn't been gone long... she was still warm.
We were all devastated. Especially John. If you look in the dictionary for the term "Momma's Boy" you just might find a picture of my brother. They had a very special relationship. After all, he was her second son but the first to come home. They watched television together all of the time. They played games. They talked. She seemed to understand John more than anyone else. They had a wonderful bond and a great love. I, on the other hand was Daddy's little girl. We had a very close and tight knit family. It was the 4 of us in 840 square feet. You had no choice but the be close. :)
My brother and I didn't have much growing up but we certainly had love. The greatest gift of all. We were blessed with 2 wonderful parents. On Oct. 3, 1983 John was 21 and I was 18. He was never the same...
October 22, 1983 I gave birth to Mom's first grand child, Laura Emily. 19 days after Mom went to Heaven. Mom now has 5 children, Laura, Brandon, Jacob, Cassie and Rodham. Three great grandchildren, Morgan, Logan and Gavin. This amazing woman produced 8 beautiful "grands" and never got to hold any of them.
It is my prayer, my wish and my dream that we will all get to meet in heaven. God Bless you Mom. He blessed me by allowing me to have 18 short but cherished years with you. Until we meet on the other side, your loving and devoted daughter... Vivian
Cassie McKenzie passed from this life in the early morning hours of October 3, 1983 at her Wurtland, KY residence. Her death certificate lists her cause of death as heart failure.
Mrs. McKenzie was the daughter of the late Russell Riffe and Maudie Baldrige Riffe. She was preceded in death by an infant son, James Russell McKenzie.
Cassie was survived by her husband James Franklin McKenzie, a son John Edwin McKenzie, and a daughter Vivian McKenzie all of Wurtland, KY.
Mrs. McKenzie was also survived by her brothers: Robert Riffe, Jimmy Riffe, Walter Riffe, Eddie Riffe, John B Riffe, and Leck Riffe; and her sisters Hester Mae Riffe Wilburn and Louraine Riffe Riley.
Her funeral service was held at Evan's Funeral Home in Raceland, KY. Officiating was Reverend Bennie Grizzle and Reverend Ray Williams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This page was created and maintained by my brother John until his death Oct. 16, 2006. Rest in Peace my dear brothers and parents, I love you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was taken from our family bible that I inherited from my brother John.~
James Franklin McKenzie and Cassie Evelyn Riffe were united in marriage on June 7, 1958 at Mr. and Mrs. Doliver Stewart's residence by Minister Arnold Pennington. Witnesses were Doliver Stewart and Maudie Riffe the brides mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has taken me quite a while to sit here and edit this page.
Cassie Evelyn Riffe McKenzie was my Mom. She was one of 10 children. 9 of whom survived to adulthood. They were simple county people with huge hearts. My Mom having the largest heart of all of them. Growing up in a holler with well water, an outhouse and no electricity was hard. She loved her family and they made the best of what they had.
Mom was an epileptic. At the age of 9 one of her brother's hit her in the head with a large rock. (I've heard conflicting stories about this, some said it was on purpose, some said not.) Not long after wards she started having grand mal seizures. They were severe and usually lasted a long time. Dad fell in love with her anyway :)
My parents married June 7, 1958. June 21, 1960 my brother James was born 2 1/2 months premature. My parents painfully watched as their first born child struggled to breathe. He died at the age of 3 days old. January 14, 1962 Mom gave birth to their second son, John Edwin. Once again they watched as their beautiful little boy struggled to live. He spent his first few months in the hospital before they finally got to bring him home. On May 20, 1965 they had a daughter Vivian Alice, me. On May 23 Mom suffered a seizure while riding in Dad's pickup truck with me in her arms. She somehow managed to open the door and we both went rolling out, down and over. We fell right about the time Dad was going around a curve which thankfully caused
the truck to move away from us. We ended up over an embankment. Mom suffered enough injuries that she had to return to the hospital. They allowed me to go along to keep her company.
Mom had a lot of accidents over the years. I have a vivid memory that of her heating an iron kettle of water over a fireplace. Her dress caught fire. John and I started screaming and Dad rushed in and put her out. Another stay in the hospital.
Mom never had an automatic washer. She used a Maytag wringer washer until it wore out. Just before it gave way Dad had to wire the wringers together. They had a safety mechanism which caused the 2 rollers in the wringer to pop open if something of a certain size (like a hand) went into it. Sure enough... One day when Mom was washing clothes she suffered a seizure and her hand went into the wringer. I was standing in front of her when it started. I still remember the horror when I realized the rollers were wired together. She suffered a broken arm.
Her last serious injury came about as the result of having a seizure while in our small bath room. As she convulsed one of her feet repeatedly kicked the pedestal sink. She suffered several broken bones. The night before she died she was at the hospital once again because of re breaking her foot.
On October 3, 1983 I woke up around 8 am. I walked down the hall way, looked over toward my parents room and saw the bed hadn't been slept in. (Dad was in the hospital. Mom and I were home alone) I still remember my heart skipping a beat and the fear I felt. Just a few steps later and I saw her. She was laying half on and half off the sofa. I could tell she had a seizure. I also knew she didn't "look right". I kept calling her name. She didn't answer. I finally reached down to touch her and knew at that moment she was gone. She hadn't been gone long... she was still warm.
We were all devastated. Especially John. If you look in the dictionary for the term "Momma's Boy" you just might find a picture of my brother. They had a very special relationship. After all, he was her second son but the first to come home. They watched television together all of the time. They played games. They talked. She seemed to understand John more than anyone else. They had a wonderful bond and a great love. I, on the other hand was Daddy's little girl. We had a very close and tight knit family. It was the 4 of us in 840 square feet. You had no choice but the be close. :)
My brother and I didn't have much growing up but we certainly had love. The greatest gift of all. We were blessed with 2 wonderful parents. On Oct. 3, 1983 John was 21 and I was 18. He was never the same...
October 22, 1983 I gave birth to Mom's first grand child, Laura Emily. 19 days after Mom went to Heaven. Mom now has 5 children, Laura, Brandon, Jacob, Cassie and Rodham. Three great grandchildren, Morgan, Logan and Gavin. This amazing woman produced 8 beautiful "grands" and never got to hold any of them.
It is my prayer, my wish and my dream that we will all get to meet in heaven. God Bless you Mom. He blessed me by allowing me to have 18 short but cherished years with you. Until we meet on the other side, your loving and devoted daughter... Vivian
Mrs. McKenzie was the daughter of the late Russell Riffe and Maudie Baldrige Riffe. She was preceded in death by an infant son, James Russell McKenzie.
Cassie was survived by her husband James Franklin McKenzie, a son John Edwin McKenzie, and a daughter Vivian McKenzie all of Wurtland, KY.
Mrs. McKenzie was also survived by her brothers: Robert Riffe, Jimmy Riffe, Walter Riffe, Eddie Riffe, John B Riffe, and Leck Riffe; and her sisters Hester Mae Riffe Wilburn and Louraine Riffe Riley.
Her funeral service was held at Evan's Funeral Home in Raceland, KY. Officiating was Reverend Bennie Grizzle and Reverend Ray Williams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This page was created and maintained by my brother John until his death Oct. 16, 2006. Rest in Peace my dear brothers and parents, I love you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following was taken from our family bible that I inherited from my brother John.~
James Franklin McKenzie and Cassie Evelyn Riffe were united in marriage on June 7, 1958 at Mr. and Mrs. Doliver Stewart's residence by Minister Arnold Pennington. Witnesses were Doliver Stewart and Maudie Riffe the brides mother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has taken me quite a while to sit here and edit this page.
Cassie Evelyn Riffe McKenzie was my Mom. She was one of 10 children. 9 of whom survived to adulthood. They were simple county people with huge hearts. My Mom having the largest heart of all of them. Growing up in a holler with well water, an outhouse and no electricity was hard. She loved her family and they made the best of what they had.
Mom was an epileptic. At the age of 9 one of her brother's hit her in the head with a large rock. (I've heard conflicting stories about this, some said it was on purpose, some said not.) Not long after wards she started having grand mal seizures. They were severe and usually lasted a long time. Dad fell in love with her anyway :)
My parents married June 7, 1958. June 21, 1960 my brother James was born 2 1/2 months premature. My parents painfully watched as their first born child struggled to breathe. He died at the age of 3 days old. January 14, 1962 Mom gave birth to their second son, John Edwin. Once again they watched as their beautiful little boy struggled to live. He spent his first few months in the hospital before they finally got to bring him home. On May 20, 1965 they had a daughter Vivian Alice, me. On May 23 Mom suffered a seizure while riding in Dad's pickup truck with me in her arms. She somehow managed to open the door and we both went rolling out, down and over. We fell right about the time Dad was going around a curve which thankfully caused
the truck to move away from us. We ended up over an embankment. Mom suffered enough injuries that she had to return to the hospital. They allowed me to go along to keep her company.
Mom had a lot of accidents over the years. I have a vivid memory that of her heating an iron kettle of water over a fireplace. Her dress caught fire. John and I started screaming and Dad rushed in and put her out. Another stay in the hospital.
Mom never had an automatic washer. She used a Maytag wringer washer until it wore out. Just before it gave way Dad had to wire the wringers together. They had a safety mechanism which caused the 2 rollers in the wringer to pop open if something of a certain size (like a hand) went into it. Sure enough... One day when Mom was washing clothes she suffered a seizure and her hand went into the wringer. I was standing in front of her when it started. I still remember the horror when I realized the rollers were wired together. She suffered a broken arm.
Her last serious injury came about as the result of having a seizure while in our small bath room. As she convulsed one of her feet repeatedly kicked the pedestal sink. She suffered several broken bones. The night before she died she was at the hospital once again because of re breaking her foot.
On October 3, 1983 I woke up around 8 am. I walked down the hall way, looked over toward my parents room and saw the bed hadn't been slept in. (Dad was in the hospital. Mom and I were home alone) I still remember my heart skipping a beat and the fear I felt. Just a few steps later and I saw her. She was laying half on and half off the sofa. I could tell she had a seizure. I also knew she didn't "look right". I kept calling her name. She didn't answer. I finally reached down to touch her and knew at that moment she was gone. She hadn't been gone long... she was still warm.
We were all devastated. Especially John. If you look in the dictionary for the term "Momma's Boy" you just might find a picture of my brother. They had a very special relationship. After all, he was her second son but the first to come home. They watched television together all of the time. They played games. They talked. She seemed to understand John more than anyone else. They had a wonderful bond and a great love. I, on the other hand was Daddy's little girl. We had a very close and tight knit family. It was the 4 of us in 840 square feet. You had no choice but the be close. :)
My brother and I didn't have much growing up but we certainly had love. The greatest gift of all. We were blessed with 2 wonderful parents. On Oct. 3, 1983 John was 21 and I was 18. He was never the same...
October 22, 1983 I gave birth to Mom's first grand child, Laura Emily. 19 days after Mom went to Heaven. Mom now has 5 children, Laura, Brandon, Jacob, Cassie and Rodham. Three great grandchildren, Morgan, Logan and Gavin. This amazing woman produced 8 beautiful "grands" and never got to hold any of them.
It is my prayer, my wish and my dream that we will all get to meet in heaven. God Bless you Mom. He blessed me by allowing me to have 18 short but cherished years with you. Until we meet on the other side, your loving and devoted daughter... Vivian
