This Christmas will be the first in 51 years that Doug McKenzie won’t spend with his wife, Greta.
Greta died in August, eight years after receiving a heart transplant.
Doug donated to the Christmas Happiness Fund in honor of Greta. The money he used would’ve gone toward her Christmas present.
The Christmas Happiness fund provides Rowan County families in need a way to purchase presents for their children.
The fund program is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, which accepts contributions. The Rowan County Department of Social Services distributes vouchers to eligible families.
All vouchers for this year have been distributed, but money collected will go toward next year’s fund.
Doug and Greta were in high school when they met at Joe’s, a Mooresville restaurant where people used to hang out, he said.
Doug was there with his friends, and Greta was there with hers. Doug was approached by the girls, who asked if he and his friends would sit with them because there were some boys the girls didn’t want to bother them.
The teens would cruise and talk at various restaurants, he said.
The couple got married while Doug was a junior at Pfeiffer University and lived on campus. Greta was a secretary to the librarian at the university.
The two got married Aug. 15 and were married for 48 years. They have three grown children.
“She was wonderful,” Doug said.
Bring Christmas Happiness contributions to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mail them to The Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639.
Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you wish your donations to be listed.
Monday’s contributions:
In memory of my departed co-workers at the Rowan County Assessor’s Office, Madolyn Yates, Binkie Williams, Virginia Kluttz, Mae Francis Johnson, Chubby Jordan, Vivian Mull, Margaret Young, Mildred Monroe, John Smith and Bill Snipes by J.W……………………$25
In loving memory of Ruby Simmerson Chilson and Nathan Raymer by Melanie Chilson………………….$25
In memory of John and Catherine Kirk, Mary Ann, Johnny, Margie, Jay, Cathy, Rite and Betty by Joseph Kirk…………………………………………$25
In memory of Howard and Norma Jean Fetterman by Dave …$250
Delta Xi Omega Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. $100
In memory of Beatrice Blount by Helen Robichaud $40
Corriher Grange $200
Anonymous $10
In honor of Greta McKenize, our first Christmas apart in 51 years by Doug McKenize .$250
In honor of Jesus on his birthday and in memory of my parents, Marion and William Linton by Marsha $49
In memory of Donald O. Byerly by Sarah Byerly and children, Lynn, Donald, Ashley, Leonard, Paul, Rachel, William, D.J., Katelyn, Parker and Ava $50
In memory of John O. Reynolds, III, Scott Rierson and Patrick Virtue by Family and Friends $150
In honor of my parents, George and Fran Faggart and in memory of my brother, Marty Faggart by Robin Faggart $50
In loving memory of Reverend Zeb Baker, Gladys Baker and Ardell Waters by The Darryl Corriher Family $25
In loving memory of Kark Corriher, Jewrell Corriher and Evelyn Simpson by The Darryl Corriher Family..$50
In memory of children and staff of Sandy Hook School in Conn. by Jim and Carol Lyerly $10
In honor of our grandchildren, A.J. and Jillian by Jim and Carol Lyerly $10
Total $1,605
Running Total $58,808.01

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.