Dr. John William Smyth MacKenzie

Dr. John MacKenzie passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Vancouver. Husband to Wendy (Cross) MacKenzie (d. 2020); Dad to Gordon and Rosemary, Ian and Marcy; much loved Grandad to Hannah and David, Alyson, Linden, and Cameron; and Great-grandad to Oscar - with whom he shared a love of ice cream.

Born in 1930 in Victoria Harbour, ON, to Dr. Duncan MacKenzie and Frances (Smyth) MacKenzie, John followed in the footsteps of his father and his oldest brother Alec by studying medicine at the University of Toronto. In the luckiest moment of his life, a fraternity friend introduced him to Wendy Cross, a native of South Porcupine then training in nursing at Toronto General Hospital; they married in 1957. Settling in Elmvale ON in 1961, they raised a family and made life-long friends in the community. “Doc” practiced family medicine in Elmvale and at Penetanguishene General for 37 years, a true country doctor who was physician, surgeon, obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and confidante to countless patients who valued his professional wisdom and gentle manner. He also served for many years as county coroner. Together, John and Wendy loved life and took pleasure in its best moments, always looking ahead with optimism and good cheer. Travelling Europe, skiing at Alpine, sailing Georgian Bay, or entertaining at home in Elmvale, they cherished time in the company of friends. In retirement, John and Wendy spent five years in Penetanguishene, often visiting Vancouver and Montreal for family get-togethers. After Wendy’s passing, John moved in 2021 to Vancouver where Gordon and Rosemary were close at hand, but he never forgot his Simcoe County friends and roots.

Dad personified several virtues: service to community, dedication to hard work and professionalism, and humility. He shared with us his passions for music and especially the outdoors; in teaching us to canoe, hike, camp and ski, he gave us a world of beauty and adventure. Most of all, Dad taught us his personal variety of love - a love that ran quiet and deep, but was fearless in expressing itself when the moment required.

The family expresses its deepest gratitude to the staff of Crofton Manor, where all knew “Doc” for his (mostly) good humour and warm smile. Please feel free to make a donation to the BC Cancer Foundation or a charity of your choice in John’s memory.