Dorothy "Dottie" Elizabeth McKenzie, 89, of Fairgo-Cumberland, MD passed away at her home June 30, 2024.

She was born in the Mapleside area of Cumberland on October 7, 1934 to the late Shannon W. and Tillie M. (Wilson) Hoover. In addition to her parents she was proceeded in death by her husbands, Charles "Eddie" Messick and George "Mac" McKenzie; two sisters, Sue Leathermen of Cumberland and Naoma Troxell of Virginia; two brothers, William "Bill" Hoover of Baltimore and Geary Hoover of Hagerstown; and a very special grandson, Zachary Winters of Cumberland.

She attended Johnson Heights Elementary and Fort Hill High School. She went on to work for the C&P Telephone Co. in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. She continued as a telephone operator at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. When her sons were born she moved back to Cumberland to raise her family, and was very loving homemaker, so much so she helped take care of many more children in running her own day care service.

Dottie was a very active member of Saint Mary's Church, Cumberland where she, with her husband, taught C.C.D. for many years. She was on the confirmation team and attended many youth conferences and retreats, she was a Eucharist minister and she would also serve communion in local nursing homes, and was voted Woman of the Year 2006, and with her husband won the Baltimore Archdiocese Medal of Honor in 1996.

Dottie was a lover of all things country, and in her spare time she loved to shop especially at local fairs and festivals. Dottie will be remembered for her many greeting and holiday cards throughout the year. She and her husband loved to host parties including, bringing Baltimore style crab fests to Mountain Maryland and a very large Christmas Eve get together. Most of all, she loved her family and spending time with them.

Dottie is survived by her four sons, Larry McKenzie and wife Sharon of Tennesse, Ricky McKenzie and wife Mary of Pittsburgh, Larry Messick and wife Cheryl of Cresaptown, MD, and Steve Messick of Gainesville, FL; her two daughters, Lora Shircliffe and husband Ansel of Cumberland, Lisa Conley and husband Mike of Cumberland; thirteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; her brother, Jimmy Hoover of Cumberland; a sister, Eloise of Texas; nieces and nephews; and a very large extended family and her many close friends.

Dottie was a friendly soul with a quiet spirit and welcomed everyone into her home. She will be dearly missed and loved eternally.

In accordance with her wishes she will be cremated and a celebration of her life will be held at LaVale Baptist Church on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

Inurnment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, Cumberland, MD.