Graveside services will be conducted simultaneously for Mrs Kathleen "Barbara" O'Shea McKenzie and her beloved husband, Johnny McKenzie, at 2:00 pm Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Rials Creek Cemetery in Simpson County. Mrs. McKenzie departed this world early Monday morning, February 9, 2026, within 24 hours of her husband. The Reverend Ted Bowlin will officiate. Saulters Moore Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 12:30 until 1:30 PM at Saulters Moore Funeral Home.

Kathleen "Barbara" O'Shea McKenzie was born in Sacramento, California, on February 20, 1932, to Donald and Rose McCarthy. Her parents immigrated from Ireland to California before she was born. They later moved to San Francisco, where she grew up as an only child. Barbara spent her adult years in Modesto, California, and retired from the California Department of Human Services. She also owned and operated Diamond K Properties, a real estate company, and bought and sold properties throughout California and Oregon. Mrs. Barbara, as she was known to her many friends, loved animals, with horses as her true passion. Her usual attire being western shirts and cowboy hats, she participated in many rodeos in the surrounding areas in California. By a chance encounter, she met the love of her life, Johnny McKenzie, in 2007. Johnny was driving trucks across the country. While in Modesto, California, Mrs. Barbara helped him obtain an urgently needed last-minute permit. As a token of his appreciation, he took her out to eat, and thus the relationship began. They communicated by phone and online for almost a year. Mrs. Barbara unfortunately suffered a stroke in 2008, and Mr. Johnny went to Modesto, California, and brought her back with him to Prentiss, Mississippi. For the next several years, they enjoyed the simple things in life: sitting in the swing, a good Western, bluegrass music, eating catfish and hamburger steak, and getting breakfast from Piggly Wiggly every morning. Mr Johnny acted as her caregiver, and she was his trusted companion. And so, ends this romantic love story of two who met by chance, and these sweethearts will spend eternity hand in hand, enjoying heaven's best.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Rose McCarthy.

She was survived for a short few hours by her husband, Johnny McKenzie. She also leaves behind her brother-in-law, Joe McKenzie (Judy); her sisters-in-law, Vertie Cooley, Myrtis Ann Haun of Katie; TX; great-nieces, Clare McKenzie, Erin McKenzie; a special nephew, Bryan McKenzie of Madison; and her nurse, friend, and caregiver, Michelle Reid of Carson.

Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com.