Mckenzie Burpee

Mckenzie Burpee, a resident of Sunriver, Oregon and Bend, Oregon, and a former resident of Santa Rosa, California. She died of natural causes on July 30, 2014 after a lengthy illness. She was surrounded by her immediate family. A native of San Francisco, California, she was a graduate of Lowell High School and attended Fresno State University and Sonoma State University pursuing a degree in urban planning. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, St. Mary of the Virgin and after her marriage, the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. Mckenzie married a young insurance man, Bob Burpee, on June 27, 1965, in Sonoma, California and settled in Santa Rosa, California to begin her life as a wife, mother and homemaker, a marriage that lasted 49 years. It was here that she raised her children, Kimberly and Reid. She later became mother-in-law to Robert Kulik and grandmother to Lauren and Jack Kulik, all of Sparta, New Jersey. As one of the original docents of the Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen, California, she loved leading visitors through this very special place. She also enjoyed her involvement in the Assistance League of Sonoma County and her interest in music led to her volunteering with the Santa Rosa Symphony League. She also furthered her intrigue with politics as a member of the League of Women Voters. Mckenzie spent many memorable and happy times at the familys vacation home in Sunriver, Oregon which they built in 1972. She enjoyed the love of her animals, Hope and Kylie and sharing the beauty of the Deschutes river, the mountains, lakes and forest and the solitude in living with nature. It was here she discovered her yearning to become a full time resident of Central Oregon. In May of 2004, Mckenzie and Bob became Oregonians. Here she became a member of the Sunriver Womens Club, the Sunriver Nature Center and a supporter of the Sunriver Music Festival and the Central Oregon Symphony. She was also instrumental in the development of the new dialysis center at the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Mckenzie will most be remembered for her generosity, as a loving partner, a caring mother and adoring grandmother. She was most grateful for the outstanding and compassionate care of her physicians and staff, the Fresenius and St. Charles dialysis Centers staff and the nurses at st. Charles. Her life-long vision and involvement will be greatly missed. A private family burial was recently held at the Pilot Butte Cemetery in Bend. At her request, there will be no services held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Partners In Care of Bend and to the Central Oregon Humane Society. A reception will be held Thursday, August 21, from 5 -7 p.m. at the Depot, Village Wiestoria, 8 and Revere in Bend. Funeral Home: Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home New 105 NW Irving Ave Bend, OR US 97701

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Mckenzie Burpee

March 15, 1944 - July 30, 2014