Donald MacKenzie was born in Glasgow in 1926 and moved to Invergordon in the Highlands when he was aged just three months.
The son of a tailor, he stayed in Invergordon until he was 18, when he left to work in a munitions factory.
After three
months, however, he was called up into the armed forces.
He was initially enlisted into the air force as a trainee pilot, but as the Second World War was drawing to a close, the RAF had less of a demand for pilots and Mr MacKenzie was then transferred to the Parachute Regiment.
He remained in the regiment until 1947 and saw service in India, Germany and Palestine, including a period of time spent on the ship Exodus.
After he was demobilised in 1947, Mr MacKenzie returned to Invergordon and became a civil servant with the Ministry of Labour.
Mr MacKenzie remained with the ministry, which later became the Department for Employment, for the rest of his working life. He transferred from Invergordon to London in 1950 and it was here that he met his future wife, Rose, who was also a civil servant at the ministry. They married in 1953.
After working in London, Mr MacKenzie returned to Scotland. He was sent at first to Skye and then worked in both Invergordon and Glenrothes before taking up a position in Edinburgh in 1973.
He remained in the Capital for the rest of his career and retired in 1986 at the age of 60.
Settling in Penicuik, he and Rose were both heavily involved in the community, particularly with regards to helping the elderly.
Mr MacKenzie was one of the founders of the charity Voices of Carers Across Lothian, a support group that campaigns to improve carers' rights and develop services needed by carers.
The charity also runs a Princess Royal Trust facility which offers information and training to carers. It has offices in both Edinburgh and Dalkeith.
Mrs MacKenzie was also involved in the setting up of Penicuik's Broomhill Day Centre in 1982, a service for the housebound elderly that operates five days a week.
After his retirement, Mr MacKenzie began to do voluntary work with the centre, becoming quite involved with its operations. The organisation celebrated its 25th anniversary in January.
He was also a member of Penicuik Community Council, where Mrs MacKenzie says that he was a voice for the elderly. Away from his professional and voluntary work, Mr MacKenzie enjoyed hill walking and spent many happy times hiking in the Pentland Hills.
He was awarded the MBE in 1986 for both his long service in the civil service and for his community work.
He recently contracted pneumonia, which led to his death at Drummond Grange Nursing Home.
He is survived by his wife Rose and children Mairi, Tom, Christine and Brenda.
The full article contains 494 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
