Anne McKenzie Stone, a long-time resident of Vero Beach, Florida, passed in peace surrounded by family and caring hospice and Palm Garden staff. She was born in Watertown, Massachusetts on January 17, 1927, to Norman Forbes and Maida Alice (Caulfield) McKenzie. She is predeceased by: her beloved grandson, Galen MacKenzie Stoller; her husband, Kenneth A. Stone, Sr.; her sister, Jean Krasowich; and the father of her children, Joseph I. Henderson. She is survived by: her children, Jo-Anne (Kevin) Hunt; Maida Alice Henderson; Robert McKenzie (Karen) Henderson; Deborah Lee (Joey) Sentance; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her cat, Penny; numerous nieces, nephews, step-children and step-grandchildren. She was a Daughter of the American Revolution, a member of the Scottish Society of the Treasure Coast and an active congregant in the Community Church of Vero Beach. In retirement, she worked part-time in various retail stores in Vero Beach and as a security guard at the Vero Beach Art Museum.

Anne grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts, and maintained friendships with many of her high school classmates all her life. After high school, she worked for the Boston Herald newspaper. She married Joe Henderson at the end of World War II, and, after a time, settled in Framingham, Massachusetts, where she and Joe raised their four children. She was active in the Lake Shore Women's Club and Plymouth Congregational Church.

When all her children were of school age, she worked as a teacher's aide at the Plymouth House Nursery School, and, later, at the Charlotte A. Dunning School for hearing impaired children. She and Joe worked as
managers of several motels and lived on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, before moving to Vero Beach. When she was 78 years old, she married her high school sweetheart, Ken Stone.

Anne was a gracious person with a joyous spirit and a sweet, winning smile that belied her tender heart. Her home was a hub of neighborhood activity for her children and their friends, as well as their Dalamatian, Checkers, who was treated as a fifth child, numerous cats and other pets. She was a great animal lover and couldn't say "no" when her children showed up with animal foundlings and pleading eyes. She was supportive of her children's extracurricular activities and encouraged them to pursue their chosen paths. There were many camping trips (which were probably more fun for the kids and the dog than for her), and visits to family and friends, in state and out. She dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and some of her nieces, nephews, and her children's friends considered her a second mom. Her step-children considered her to be the matriarch of their family.

When Anne had to leave her residence at Village Green to live at Palm Garden, she was an active participant in most of the activities there and made friends readily with the residents and staff. As well as being truly
loved and sorely missed by her family and friends, her loss will be deeply felt at Palm Garden.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Anne's name to the Humane Society of Vero Beach, 4445 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32966, www.hsvb.org.

End-of-life arrangements are being lovingly handled by Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory of Vero Beach, Florida.