Dr. Lynne Maureen McKenzie

Dr. Lynne Maureen McKenzie left us too soon, at the age of 67, on March 14th, 2017, while out of the country on vacation.  Lynne’s journey on this earth began on October 17th, 1949, in Edmonton Alberta.

From the start, she was the curious, loving soul all those around her admired and adored.  Lynne moved to Fleet, Alberta when she was very young.  Lynne spent her free-range childhood roaming widely and learning constantly.

After graduating from Gus Wetter high school as valedictorian in 1966, she attended the Northern Institute of Technology (NAIT) and graduated as a Medical Lab Technician with honors in 1968.  Lynne worked for two years as a Lab Tech than began the trajectory that lead her to receiving her BSc and MD at the University of Calgary.  Lynne was one of four women who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1978.  Lynne did her two-year residency at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary.  In 1980, she opened her own medical practice in Calgary with privileges at both the Rockyview General Hospital and the Holy Cross Hospital.  Lynne delivered hundreds of babies while in Calgary, she also assisted an orthopedic surgeon who was pioneering arthroscopic surgeries.

In 1995, Lynne moved to Hanna and then in July 1996 she moved to Drumheller to further her practice of family medicine.  April of 1999, Lynne settled in Coronation to serve the community as a medical doctor.  Living close to her childhood home in Fleet, allowed her to spend time with and care for her mother, Ada. 

Lynne was a consummate professional, who was passionate about her work in medicine.  She will always be remembered as a physician who advocated for her patients and served them with warmth and compassion.  She delivered the last baby born at the Coronation Hospital and Care Centre.  Right up until her retirement in December 2016, she continued to make home visits to her patients in need.

Lynne still found time to embrace life with her enthusiasm for gardening, cooking, painting or colouring, reading, skiing, biking and appreciating nature.  She loved ‘putting by for the winter’ seasonal vegetables and fruits, pickling numerous types of pickles and relishes and creating chutneys, jams, and jellies.  One of her greatest joys was her animal companions with whom she shared her life and home.  Lynne lived life as brightly as the waterfall of flowers in her garden.  Lynne was a loving, generous person, fun talented lady and the world is a little less bright without her in it.

Dr. Lynne Maureen McKenzie leaves dawna elliott and her animal companions Dharma, Ellie, and Buddy to cherish her memory.

She will also be remembered by her sister Sherry (David) Sinclair, her brother Blair (Julia) McKenzie, her sister Donna (Gary) Hutchison, her sister Gwen McKenzie (Greg); her five nephews Joel, Robyn, Daniel, Nathan, and Landon; and her four nieces Leah, April, Tiffany, and Cassia.   Lynne will also live on in the hearts of numerous other extended family, colleagues, and many close friends.

Lynne was sadly predeceased by her parents Alexander and Ada McKenzie.  She was also predeceased by her animal companions, dogs Dylan, Sunny, Darby, Sasha, and Bozeman and her cats Bob, Max, Rosey, and Emma.

Dr. Lynne M. McKenzie Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship has been established in memory of Dr. Lynne Maureen McKenzie, who dedicated her life and career to medicine and the special place in her heart that she carried for rural Alberta medicine.

The scholarship is open to any medical student currently enrolled in either of the two Alberta medical schools who wish to pursue a career as a rural Alberta physician. 

If friends and family, so desire, donations can be made directly to The Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan, 2801 Telus House, 10020  - 100th  Street N.W., Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0N3 : c/o the Dr. Lynne M. McKenzie Memorial Scholarship.  Telephone 1 (866) 423-9911 or 1 (780) 423-9911.  Email info@rpap.ab.ca.  

Heather Caseley, Funeral Director of Coronation Funeral Home, Box 358, Coronation, Alberta T0C 1C0 was entrusted with funeral arrangements. Condolences can be forwarded to the family by visiting the website www.coronationfuneralhome.ca.

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