Palestine High School Alumni Association

03 / 24 / 1928  –  03 / 02 / 2008

Services for Mary Earnestine McKenzie Winkel of Tennessee Colony will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Tennessee Colony Church with Bro. John Wisener officiating. Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery under the direction of Bailey and Foster Funeral Home.

“Miss Ernestine,” 79, of Tennessee Colony, passed away Sunday peacefully surrounded by her family at her home.

She was born March 24, 1928, in Tennessee Colony, the daughter of Earnest Raymond and Mary Lou Schitoskey McKenzie.

She was married for 47 years to J.A. Winkel. They owned and operated a dairy farm and a construction company in Tennessee Colony. She was a retired school teacher having taught at Spurger, Four Pines and Cayuga school districts.

She was a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, a member of Tennessee Colony Church and Tennessee Colony Order of the Eastern Star No. 102.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.A. Winkel; parents, Ernest and Mary Lou McKenzie; sister, Geraldine McKenzie Ingram; and brother, Clayton McKenzie.

She is survived by her children, Tony, Ann, Tobin and Todd; and grandchildren, John Costlow, Mary Costlow Walker, Courtney Costlow LeGard of Athens, Stephen Winkel and Jordan Winkel of Palestine, and Abigail, Samantha, Emily and Benjamin Winkel of Tennessee Colony; and four great-grandchildren, Kaitlin and Kole Costlow, and MacKenzie and Meredith LeGard, all of Athens. She also is survived by her sister, Joy McKenzie of Palestine and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX, 75701; Tennessee Colony Church or Tennessee Colony Cemetery or a charity of your choice.

Condolence calls will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bailey and Foster Funeral Home.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 03-03-2008