Toby McKenzie

Steve Allen "Toby" McKenzie, 59, a resident of Cleveland passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013 in a Chattanooga hospital. He was a member of Mt. Olive Church of God. Mr. McKenzie was a well known local Entrepreneur; initiating the operation of National Cash Advance and many property developments. Mr. McKenzie graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1971. He was a multiple letterman in both football and baseball. After high school, he took a job as a paper boy for both the Cleveland Daily Banner and the Chattanooga Times. From this humble start, he went on to co-found and own two "rent to own" companies in the 1980's and 1990's, and National Cash Advance in the 1990's. At the time of its sale in 1999, the Cleveland, TN based National Cash Advance included 550 stores nationwide. Mr. McKenzie was a well known philanthropist in the Bradley County area. He made numerous donations to local concerns, including the United Way, Lee University, and several local schools. He also established scholarships at both UT-Chattanooga and UT-Knoxville. One of his most notable donations was made to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where his contribution (along with his former wife Brenda Lawson) allowed retirement of the debt of the UTC "Roundhouse". The arena now bears the name McKenzie Arena in the family's honor. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Gail Bettis McKenzie and brother, Mark Patrick McKenzie. Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Howle McKenzie of Cleveland; three children: Shasta McKenzie and husband Jody McGill of Cleveland, Steve "Toby" McKenzie, Jr. and wife Elizabeth of Ooltewah and Ashley McKenzie of Ooltewah; two step-daughters, Mary Beth Baker and Meagan Frye both of Cleveland; grandson, Steve Allen McKenzie, III of Ooltewah; three step-grandsons: Dawson Satterfield, Bo Baker and Joey Frye all of Cleveland; sister-in-law, Debbie McKenzie of Cleveland; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Terry and Melanie Gaston; nephews-in-law, Jared Gaston and Clark Gaston; and three nephews and one niece. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Mt. Olive Church of God with Pastor Gary Sears officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Chris Eaton, Steve Logsdon, Rick Lawson, Jared Gaston, Clark Gaston and Charles Heron serving as pallbearers. Joseph Decosimo, Larry Kugler, Larry King and Brad Kilpatrick will serve as honorary pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. His family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Fike Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the McKenzie family guestbook at www.fikefh.com