Zoe Virginia MacKenzie

Zoe Virginia MacKenzie, 90, of Longview, Wash., died Sept. 9, 2009 from natural causes.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 8, 1918 to Walton and Mayo Williams. She graduated from Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in music. She was an accomplished arranger, composer and musician who played the piano, harpsichord, organ, cello and viola. She was also an excellent seamstress, knitter and cook.

On Jan. 20, 1943 while providing piano accompaniment for a modern dance trio in Detroit, she met Robert D. MacKenzie. They were engaged that night and married a year later. They were married for over 41 years. In 1952, the couple moved to Libby where they and their five children lived in a house she helped design.

When she wasn’t working in her husband’s medical office, she was an active member of the school board and the Community Concerts Association. For over three decades, she played the organ for local Sunday services and weddings. She also played piano accompaniments for dozens of students who performed in district and state music festivals. In the 1980s, she helped found the Libby Chamber Players.

Mrs. MacKenzie was humbled to receive the 1968 Woman of the Year award and to be named the grand marshal for the 1991 Nordicfest parade. Though she left the state in 1991 to be closer to family in Longview, Wash., she always considered Libby as her home.

During the last 18 years, she immersed herself in the arts in Longview. She played viola in the Southwest Washington Symphony. And at age 82, she made her stage debut by performing in the leading roles of several theatrical productions.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, and by her great-granddaughter, Lauren Hubbard.

She is survived by her children, Duncan MacKenzie of Rainier, Ore.; Bruce MacKenzie of Minneapolis, Minn.; Heather Geiger of Three Forks; Meg Hubbard of Longview, Wash.; and Holly Freeman of Portland, Ore.; seven grandchildren, Matt, Ben and Simon MacKenzie, Chris and Katie Geiger, Ryan and Rob Hubbard; and two great-grandchildren, Rylan and Addison Hubbard.

A private interment service will be held at the Libby Cemetery. Details about a public reception to celebrate her life will be announced at a later date.

She asked that any remembrances in her name be given to the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, P.O. Box 1026, Longview, WA 98632.