Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jim McKenzie

Jim McKenzie, 60, of Prescott, departed this life on Friday, March 1, 2002, at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Hospital after a four-and-a-half year valiant battle with cancer.

At the time of his death, he was a senior partner in the law firm of McKenzie, McRae, Vasser and Barber.

He was born on September 26, 1941 in Prescott to Horace and Lawrence Britt McKenzie. He graduated from Prescott High School and received his BSBA from the University of Arkansas in 1963 and his LLB from the University of Arkansas School of Law Fayetteville in 1966 where he was Co-Editor of the Arkansas Law Review. He was also a member and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and a member of Blue Key.

He served on the Student Senate and ROTC and was a member of the Arkansas Razorback baseball team.

Following his discharge from active duty from the U.S. Army, where he served as Captain from 1966 to 1968, he returned as a practicing attorney in the firm of McKenzie, McRae, Vasser and Barber in Prescott.

He was a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and served as president from 1991-92. During his time as president and throughout his practice, he stressed and promoted ethics and moral conduct in the legal profession.

He was named outstanding lawyer of the Arkansas Bar in 1998. He was a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the Arkansas Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition to being a member of the Arkansas Bar Foundation Board of Directors and member of its Trust Committee, he served as Chairman of the Arkansas Bar Association Executive Council.

He fulfilled appointments from the Arkansas Supreme Court to the Arkansas Model Jury Instructions Committee (Civil), the Committee as well as a special associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1984 and 1990.

A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Prescott, Jim's servitude was exemplified in numerous ways. He was an influential Sunday School teach, youth sponsor and held positions including Chairman of the Administrative Council, Chairman of the Board fo Trustees and Lay Leader.

Active in local community affairs, Jim served as president of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Nevada County Hospital Board of Governors, and president and secretary of the Prescott Kiwanis Club. In addition, he coached Little League baseball.

He was an avid golfer and a dedicated Razorback fan. He also enjoyed spending time on his farm with family and his beloved dog, Mountain.

His survivors include: his wife, Betty Ligon McKenzie of Prescott; two daughters, Kris Raub and husband Mike of McKinney, Texas, and Miki Morrow and husband Jeff of Benton; five grandchildren, McKenzie and Caroline Raub, and Grayson, Katie and Colen Morrow; and one aunt, Jeanette McCormack of Little Rock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Lawrence McKenzie.

Funeral services were 11 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2002, at the First United Methodist Church in Prescott with Rev. Jim Lenderman officiating. Burial followed in DeAnn Cemetery in Prescott under the direction of Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott. Family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2002, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Prescott, Nevada County Cancer Association at P.O. Box 600 in Prescott, or the James H. McKenzie High School Athletic Endowment Fund at P.O. Box 599 in Prescott.