Oscar Keith McKenzie, 92, of Mullins passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at MUSC Health Marion Medical Center with his family by his side. He was born in Mullins on September 22, 1926, the son of the late Shepard Allen McKenzie and the late Sallie Belle Smith McKenzie.
A true Southern gentleman, Oscar had an infectious personality and to know him was to love him. He was well-known in the community for his devotion to his family, his church, his farm, his country and his Clemson Tigers. A proud farmer, he enjoyed working the land and watching the splendor of his crops growing in the field. He, along with Betty, his wife and true love of sixty-nine years, raised their four daughters on the farm and taught them the value of hard work, love for the Clemson Tigers and devotion to family and church. You could often see him riding around in his truck or his golf cart checking on his barns, livestock and fields. He retired after working for over 50 years as a cotton inspector for the United States Department of Agriculture in 2010. Soon after he retired from the USDA, he also retired from farming and found another love -working in his garden with his watermelons, okra, and tomatoes. He found great joy in sharing his watermelons from the back of his truck throughout the community. Neighbors would often come home and see a watermelon at their back steps and know that Oscar had been by their house. He was a dedicated member of the Who-So-Ever-Will Sunday School Class at Mullins First Baptist Church where he had also served as a Deacon. An avid Clemson fan, he enjoyed going to the football games for over 50 years and when the trips to Clemson became too much for him, he cheered them on from his chair in the den. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army where he served in World War II.
In addition to his parents, Oscar was predeceased by a daughter, Sharon; seven brothers, George, Shep, Carlisle, Paul, Harold, Wade Hampton, and Billy Frank; three sisters, Flora Ruth, Sara and Dorothy.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, of Mullins; four daughters, Sandra M. Hunter (Eric) of Winston-Salem, NC, Teresa F. McKenzie of Mullins, Sheila M. McKenzie of Lake View; and Paula-Keith Page (Russell) of Mullins; eight grandchildren; Ashley Carroll Watson(Chris), Jami Leigh Carroll Myers (Murray), Justin-Keith McKenzie (Erin), Brittany Faye Brown, Samantha McKenzie, MacKenzie "Bop" Page, Tyler Page, Sallie-Keith Sharon Page and nine great-grandchildren. Oscar is also survived by his "adopted son" Tony Brantley (Sherry) who has been by his side throughout his life.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 8, 2019 in the Fellowship Hall of Mullins First Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church with Reverend Robbie Baxley officiating. The family will lay Oscar to rest in a private interment at Gapway Baptist Church Cemetery in Mullins.
If you would like to remember Oscar, the family suggests that memorials be made in his memory to Mullins First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 443, Mullins, South Carolina 29574.
An online guestbook is available at www.mearesfh.com.
Oscar is in the care of Meares Funeral Home.