Diane  (Kirby) MacKenzie 

1942-2025

Diane Kirby MacKenzie died on December 2, 2025, at The Birches in Harbor Springs after fighting Lewy Body Disease. Born September 22, 1942 to William and Marion (Simmons) Kirby, she attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe Farms and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1960. Diane worked for North Central Airlines and the Ask Mr. Foster Travel Agency in Detroit. She moved to Harbor Springs in 1973 to work at Boyne Highlands and married R. Webster MacKenzie in 1975. She and Webb shared 35 loving years together.

Diane leaves an impressive legacy—from serving as candy striper at Lockwood-McDonald Hospital, to being a founding Board Member of the hospice which became Hiland House. She was President of the Harbor Springs Garden Club. She volunteered at New Beginnings resale shop, where she was so good at organizing plastic supplies that they called her “Diane Plastics.”  Diane volunteered at the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry, where she spearheaded food drives and ordered canned goods—always on sale. Diane also loved gardening, needlepoint, knitting, and watercolor painting.

Diane was predeceased by her brother Gerry and her husband Webb.

Diane is survived by her stepsons Rob and Jamie MacKenzie, her sister Joan Kirby, brother Tom Kirby, niece Allison, and nephews Jason, Christopher, and Todd. Special thanks go to the wonderful caregivers at The Birches and to Diane’s dear friends who visited and kept her spirits up, especially Josie O’Brien.

There will be a Memorial Mass at Holy Childhood on December 19 at 11:00 a.m. She will be interred in the Kirby family plot in Grand Haven next summer. Those wishing to honor her memory may contribute to the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry at P.O. Box 23, Harbor Springs, MI 49740.

https://www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com/obituary/Diane-MacKenzie