Prince George, B.C.- The pews at Sacred  Heart Cathedral in Prince George were full, as members of a community gathered to say goodbye to the man they had come to know as Dr. Jack.

Dr. John Gerard McKenzie’s life was celebrated this afternoon  at the  parish  he had been  a member of  for 95  of his 96 years of life. 

Born in Prince George in November of 1917,  he would  first  seek post  secondary education to become an engineer, then switch to become a teacher, and finally, would move to the profession which would see him  set up practice in Prince George. 

His casket was  escorted to the front of the church by an honour  guard of Knights of Columbus in full dress uniforms.  Members of the  Catholic Women’s League  wore sashes as a show of respect for  the late Dr. McKenzie and his wife Andrea who is an honourary  member of the CWL.

Son Gerard McKenzie,  an orthopaedic surgeon, delivered the eulogy,  noting the many accomplishments and  accolades bestowed on his father. "When I was practicing in Prince George,  I was known as ‘the other’ Dr. McKenzie" said Gerard McKenzie. 

He spoke of his father’s dedication to his patients, of a family  which  had to come up with creative ways to spend time  with  Dr. Jack. "We  would drive around in the station wagon with him in the evening as he made housecalls, and sometimes the station wagon was used as an ambulance as a patient would have to be taken to the hospital."

When Dr. Jack  first set up practice in P.G. , he charged $1 for an office visit, and once   rode a horse for 5 miles to  get to a patient who was suffering from kidney failure.

Dr. Jack’s  dedication to his patients was reiterated by  those who sat in the pews,  sharing  quiet stories of  Dr. Jack’s  gentle hands, and the fact he  had  served several generations of the same family.

"One of the greatest tributes to my father, was the naming of the Family Practice Clinic on Alward Street" said Gerard.  That clinic, where medical students can hone their skills as a family physician, bears Dr. John G.McKenzie’s name, a tribute to his life’s work.

Gerard McKenzie closed his eulogy saying "Dr. Jack will be remembered with great love and affection by all those  whose lives he touched.  He will be missed everyday by  his friends and family.  What more could one ask?"