Donald R. MacKenzie, age 84, died at his home in Whitman on August 1, 2013 after a period of failing health. He was the husband of Priscilla (Ducharme) MacKenzie for 53 years.
Born in Kearney, N. J., he was raised in Lowell, Mass., by his grandparents, William and Mary Ellen (Plunkett) MacKenzie. He attended local schools, including Newman Prep, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts -- Lowell. A World War II veteran, he spent 10 years in the Army Reserves. He was employed by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for over 35 years, accepting positions at several VA hospitals nationwide, including Brockton, Mass. and Manchester, N. H., from which he retired. A golf enthusiast, he was also a fan of Boston sports teams, especially the Bruins and Red Sox. He will be remembered for walking his greyhounds through Whitman.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four children: Peter, and wife, Virginia, of Brentwood, N. H.; David, and wife Melanie, of Brockton; Gregory and Michelle, of Lowell; one grandson, Ian, of Brockton; two step-granddaughters, Ashley and Hannah Burke, of Brentwood, N. H.; his sister-in-law, Collette Fitzgerald, and husband Thomas Fitzgerald, of Lowell; two nephews, Timothy Fitzgerald and wife Karen Kedrowski, of Rock Hill, S. C., and Daniel and wife Lisa Fitzgerald, of Londonderry, N. H.; three great-nephews, Patrick and Sean Fitzgerald, of Londonderry, N. H., Jonathan Fitzgerald, of Rock Hill, S. C.; and one great-niece, Suzanne Fitzgerald, of Rock Hill, S. C.
The family will receive friends at Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth St, (Rte 58 @ the rotary circle) Whitman on Sunday, August 4, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a mass of Christian burial at 9:00 am on Monday, August 5, at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, at the corner of Washington and School Sts. in Whitman. Additional calling hours will be Tuesday, August 6, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Archambault Funeral Home, 311 Pawtucket St., Lowell, Mass. A prayer service will be held on Wednesday, August 7, at 11:00 am, in the chapel at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Chelmsford, Mass.