Mr. Zephery Joe Mckinzie

Funeral Services for Zephery Joe McKinzie, age 64, of Cookeville, will be Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Dyer Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Cookeville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until time of the service. Mr. McKinzie passed away Saturday morning, February 13, 2016 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Zephery was born November 23, 1951 in Palestine, TX to the late Hewitt Roy McKinzie and Charlsta May Conley McKinzie. He and his wife Miriam had just moved to Cookeville in January to be near family, and had been attending First Baptist Church and Trinity. Zeph was the life of a party, who loved to laugh, and loved people. He especially loved his family and prayed for them daily. He was a history buff, and enjoyed reading. As a young man, Zeph was drafted by the Denver Broncos, but got his leg broken early on, and that ended his career. In addition to his wife, Miriam, Mr. McKinzie is survived by two children; Joseph Paul McKinzie (wife Olia) of Grapevine TX and Joanna Elizabeth Smith (husband Sean) of Arlington TX, as well as two step-children, Matthew Allen Phipps (wife Keva) and Danica Stephens, both of Mt. Juliet TN. Zephery is also survived by one sister, Erma Francis McCline (husband Lewis) of Palestine TX, and two brothers; Hewitt Dewayne McKinzie (wife Lana) of Aurora TX and Jerry Wayne McKinzie of Ft. Worth TX. In addition, Mr. McKinzie leaves two grandchildren; Jaxon Connor Smith and Savannah Grace Smith, as well as nine step-grandchildren; Melinda Weyker, Audrey Phipps, Ava Brown, Jake, Erin, Tori, Maya and Rachel Stephens, and Daphne Varela, as well as one niece, Ashley McKinzie. He leaves behind many friends and a large extended family. In addition to his parents, Mr. McKinzie was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Ann McKinzie and a brother, Freeman McKinzie. Bro. J.D. Thomas and Pastor Gary Owen will be conducting the services.