McKenzie Marie Mehlisch

In the month of flowers and spring, on May 21st, 1987, McKenzie Marie Mehlisch came into the world.

McKenzie was baptized at Nativity Church in Fargo and graduated from Fargo South in 2005. She was a stand-out athlete and was a member of the F-M Acro Team, along with Track and Field and Basketball teams, all while keeping up with classes and working at the Moorhead DQ. McKenzie held the ND State track record for the 100M hurdles from 2005-2024 and the ND State field record for long jump from 2005-2025. She was honored to be inducted into the North Dakota High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2024. She was also a member of the NDSU Track and Field Team. “Mac” and Shannon had six special years traveling the country together with the F-M Acro Team, even meeting Michael Jordan in Chicago. McKenzie treasured two incredibly special coaches, Rory Beil (Fargo South Track Coach) and Jim Simle (F-M Acro Team). Mac truly cherished her Acro memories with ‘Sim’, the entire Acro staff and all of her teammates. Without Rory she believed she would not have achieved all that she did. McKenzie held various jobs after her athletic career was over. She spent her workdays with many kind and wonderful people, most notedly the employees at Dixon Insurance/Interstate Truck Licensing. In later years she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and was an adventurous chef, even growing her own herbs. She told her mom she would talk to her plants (“the girls”) every morning. She had recently rediscovered her spirituality, keeping devotionals on her nightstand. And she and her dog, Murphy, had the most special bond of puppy love.

Sorrowfully, as in so many lives, McKenzie suffered with alcohol addiction. Although she fought the good fight and had moments of sobriety, the physical, psychological, and emotional struggle of so many years became too much to bear. After, her soul was entrusted to God, she was able to donate her eyes and tissues to others. She went to her heavenly home on April 22, 2026. She is now at peace in the Everlasting Arms.

McKenzie touched many lives with her beautiful smile and big heart and will be sorely missed by her beloved mother, Shannon, her father, Sammy Davis, her fiancé Mike Kary, Jason, Melissa, Cody, Grammy Shari Mehlisch, Dallas Davis, Cam, Matt, Katie, and Cameron Dockter, also including many special family members and friends. Her Papa Jerry was at the pearly gates, welcoming her home, along with Brenda Potter (Acro Team Athletic Trainer).

Please, if you or someone you know is suffering from a substance use disorder, reach out. And if you wish to make a donation in memory of McKenzie, please consider Soul Solutions — 1801 38th Street South, Fargo ND 58103. If we can save one life from addiction it will be a tribute and honor to McKenzie.

“I keep the memory of you and me, inside and we don’t say good-bye…”