FARMINGTON — Ava Twitchell McKenzie, 101, died Oct. 6, at a Farmington health care facility.

Ava was born April 10, 1910, in Amherst, to Forrest and Edna (Baldwin) Swett. She grew up in Newport and graduated valedictorian from Newport High School in 1927. Two years later, she graduated from Farmington Normal School. On June 5, 1966, Ava graduated from Farmington State Teachers College (now University of Maine at Farmington) 37 years after graduating from Farmington Normal.

Ava had a long and noteworthy career as an elementary teacher in Westford, Mass., Clinton, Phillips, East Dixfield, North Jay, New Sharon and Wilton. She retired in 1972.

Ava’s avocation was music: vocal and piano. She sang in church choirs in Newport, Phillips, Farmington and York and was often asked to sing solos, which she did willingly. She continued to play her hymns on the piano for most of her life, until she became physically unable to do so. As a teenager, she played background piano for the silent movies at the Newport Movie Theatre and continued to play and sing in high school and college musical organizations.

Ava is survived by her four sons, all of whom were a huge part of life, Charles and wife, Nancy, of Farmington, Norman and wife, Suzanne, of Wilton, Stephen and wife, Mary, of Little Falls, Minn., and Paul of Mount Vernon; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Ava was predeceased by her first husband, Kenneth Twitchell; her second husband, Charles McKenzie; her parents; two brothers, Phillip and Arthur Swett; sister, Barbara Tucker; and one great-granddaughter, Taylor Twitchell.

To sign an online guest book and leave written tributes please visit: www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com.