The McKenzie Family Relief Fund and Memorial
1/20/21 Update:
**UPDATE** - There have been some changes to the services planned throughout the weekend. Please note the new plans below.
We will have a wake on Thursday, January 21st, from 6pm - 8pm. The wake will be hosted by Ely & Sons Funeral Chapel - 4707 E Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64127. All are welcome to attend. Masks are required.
There will no longer be a public visitation.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 22nd, from 11am - 12pm at Friendship Baptist Church - 3530 Chelsea Dr, Kansas City, MO 64128. Attendance will be INVITATION ONLY. Masks will be required for all who attend.
For all others, an online live stream will be available to watch the services. The services can be live streamed here: (https://fbckcmo.org/media-resources/worship-broadcast) or through the church's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FriendshipBaptistChurchKCMO) or through the Friendship Baptist Church app.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to either of the following organizations - City Year educational support (https://www.cityyear.org/donate/) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Donate-to-NAMI).
Finally, there will be a Celebratory Drive Through at Etta's State Farm Office, 11818 Blue Ridge Blvd, KCMO, 64134. It will be from 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Everyone is asked to bring a canned good for donation to Ingles Elementary School. Let's party, Ken & Etta Style!
The family is also planning a larger Celebration of Life, to be held when we can all safely gather together and celebrate the lives of Kenneth and Etta! More details to come!
1/18/21 Update: Thank you deeply to everybody who has donated. Your kindness and generosity has touched The McKenzie Family as they navigate this horrible time. For most of us, when tragedy strikes, we feel called to help. Kenneth Jr., Kamille, and Dawn never asked for money, but I know that we as a greater community wanted to serve them in any way we could. Creating a GoFundMe was the most efficient way for a large group of people to help them during a pandemic. Let’s continue helping them, the way Etta and Kenneth Sr. helped others. We love you Kenneth Jr., Kamille, and Dawn.
Friends and Family, I am reaching out to you to open your hearts to the McKenzie Family who are experiencing an absolute tragedy. In the early morning hours of January 13, 2021, Etta and Kenneth McKenzie were murdered in their own home. It is important to share this tragic detail as you should know it was by a man who they had been trying to help. That is who they were. Helpers.
Despite their best efforts to assist this family member get back on his feet, Pay for medication, and have a stable life, he grew increasingly agitated and robbed them of their lives.
We cannot imagine the pain that the McKenzie family is feeling. Etta and Kenneth’s grown children, Kenneth Jr. and Kamille, need all of your support in this unthinkable time. They are faced with insurmountable tasks during a worldwide pandemic which is particularly cruel.
Kenneth Jr. (Ken and his wife Dawn) and Kamille would benefit gratefully and humbly with your support today. They are all currently in the Kansas City area to prepare for a double funeral for their parents.
Let’s shower them with donations and love to cover the costs of burials, food, flights, deductibles, legal expenses, appropriate home cleaning expenses given the tragic circumstances, gas money, lodging, rental cars, hotels, a memorial to honor their parents, and eventually, therapeutic intervention and support for the entire family.
Give your loves ones a hug today; tomorrow is not promised.