On a sunny April morning, Irven Orval and Bessie (Wimberley) Duke joyfully welcomed their only daughter, Vivian Lois, into a family of five sons.

Vivian enjoyed a happy childhood playing with her brothers on the family dairy farm. She attended local schools and excelled as a student. After graduating from Mountain Grove High School, she received a tuition scholarship to attend a business college in Springfield. Her first job was as a legal secretary.

In 1955, Vivian married her love, William J. McKinzie. The couple moved to Kansas City shortly after their wedding. Upon returning to Springfield, Vivian began working at the Missouri State Highway Department.

In 1960, Vivian welcomed her first daughter, Valerie, followed six years later by Wendy. Her greatest joy was being a devoted wife and mother. She spent countless hours supporting her daughters' activities, including music and dance lessons, cheerleading, track meets, and volleyball games.

In 1967, Vivian began working for the Frisco Railroad (now BNSF), where she later retired.

Vivian was a kind, loving, and compassionate caregiver to her widowed father, father-in-law, brother, aunt, uncle, and her beloved husband during his battle with Alzheimer's. She also deeply appreciated the prayers and support of her friends and church family during Valerie's courageous fight against metastatic breast cancer.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Earl, Herbert, Wm. C. (and his wife Shirley), and Bonnard; her husband, William; and her daughter, Valerie.

She is survived by her daughter Wendy (Lance Moeller); son-in-law Gary Brown; beloved grandchildren, Declan Brown and Zoe Moeller; her brother, Vance Duke (Chris); her nieces and nephews, and cats Lily and Patches.

A memorial service will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Friday, January 10, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:15 a.m. Committal will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Mountain Grove at a later date.

Donations in Vivian's memory may be made to Eden Animal Haven, a cat rescue and sanctuary, at edenanimalhaven.org