Elizabeth MacKenzie, beloved wife, mother, sister and educator, peacefully passed away at her home in Grass Valley on Sunday, November 8th surrounded by her daughter Lauren, her son Sean, and her husband Mark. She had been bravely battling pancreatic cancer for a year. She was 62 years old.

Elizabeth led a life rich in love and professional accomplishments, and leaves behind a legacy of happy memories for her family and many friends. She had a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of parents, children, and teachers in our community. Elizabeth was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, daughter of Margaret Klepfer and Jack Wiegand. Elizabeth was one of eight siblings, and enjoyed spending summers with them on her Grandmother Ethel’s farm. As Elizabeth spent much of her early life surrounded by children, she developed an instinct and concern for their welfare, which would be one of the guiding principles of her adult life. Elizabeth also showed an early passion for learning and education, and read every book in her school’s library as a student in Indiana. After leaving Indianapolis, she met her first husband, Stephen Mackenzie, in San Diego. Shortly thereafter she moved to Nevada County and started her career as a teacher. She would also start her journey as a beloved mother. Elizabeth married the love of her life, Mark Applegate, in 1994, and they shared 21 years of 

joyous matrimony. Elizabeth’s illustrious career as a childcare provider had humble beginnings. She began in 1973 working for Mona Lee Reiswig in Grass Valley as a teacher’s aide. Elizabeth eventually bought her own facility, and for the past 32 years she has served as owner, CEO, and administrator of Little Friends Child Development Center in Nevada City. The Center’s commitment to excellence will continue with the leadership of longtime Director Susan Christensen and the Board of Directors. Little Friends is well known for providing an exemplary early childhood program, and it has a 5 Star rating through the Quality Rating Project. It has also achieved the distinguished honor of 

being named to Nevada County’s “Best Of” list 9 times. Because of the Center’s relentless quest for quality, in 2014 the State of California asked the Center to join the Race to the Top Program. She was honored for her outstanding contribution to Early Childhood education in 2005 when she received the Lenahan Award for Lifetime Contribution to children from Sierra Nevada Children’s Services. Elizabeth mentored pre-service teachers for 14 years as an adjunct faculty member at Yuba College. Her students often spoke of the impact she made in their careers and their lives. She was also the childcare Ombudsperson for Nevada County for 5 years, and has been a trainer for both First 5 and Head Start. More recently, she had served on the Board of Directors for the Child Care Coordinating Council, was a leader in the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, and was an active member of the Quality Child Care Collaborative. Elizabeth was a graduate of the West Ed program for infant and Toddler Care, as well as Pacific Oaks College. Elizabeth was an avid gardener, and loved to travel both in the U.S. and abroad with Mark and her children. 

While teaching and educating brought Elizabeth immense personal satisfaction, her family was what she cherished most. Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Mark Applegate; her son, Sean MacKenzie; her step-son Ryan Applegate; her daughter, Lauren Garrison; her granddaughter, Monroe Ruby Garrison; her son-in-law Mica Garrison; her sisters, Susan Metzger, Arden Wiegand, Kim Whiteman and Julia Metzger; her brothers, Kurt Wiegand, Erich Wiegand and Aaron Wiegand; her Aunt Carolyn Cobbs and Will Caudill. She was loved and will be missed by our entire community.