Gilbert Lee McKee's Obituary
Gilbert Lee McKee, 80, of Columbia, transitioned from this life to the next on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, January 22, 2010 at St. Lukes United Methodist Church with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11-1 PM Saturday at the church.
Gilbert Lee McKee, 80, was born in Fayette, Mo. on May 8, 1930 to Mattie Ray and Hadley McKee.
He was the eldest of two children. He was raised by a Christian couple, Johnny and Rhoddie Ray.
Gilbert was raised in Old Franklin, Mo. As a youth he helped work on the farm. He attended Old Franklin School. Gilbert accepted Christ at an early age. He joined the army where he served in the Korean War receiving medals of Honor. He returned to Columbia and worked at Dorn Cloney Laundry and the Medical Center. He relocated to Kansas City, Mo. and married Ruby Standard McKee. He was employed with Russell Stover Candy Company. He managed a parking garage for JMC and retired from a bank in Kansas City. He returned to Columbia and worked at Nora Stewart Nursery School.
Gilbert enjoyed the blues, guitar, hunting, fishing, baseball, Children, pets and spending time with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, two brothers, one son, three daughters, one grandson and a nephew.
He leaves to cherish his memory his father Hadley McKee of Detroit, Mi., his sister Mary Ann Gray of Columbia, two daughters; Iris Lorene Jones of Quincy, MA., Rev. Debbie Turner of Long Island, NY., two uncles; Marion and Dorothy McKee of Detroit, Charles Patrick of Columbia, an adopted sister Ester Harris of New Franklin, Nephews; William (Alfreda) McKee Jr., James Gray, Michael McKee, Kevin McKee and Calvin Gray, nieces; Genita Jackson and Maxine Gray, he was father to a son in Kentucky and a stepfather to Darrell Hardin of Texas, Roger Hardin, Mark D. Jones, Darrell R. Jones, Richard A. Jones all of Columbia, Lester D. Jones of Boonville, Rodney Jones of Colorado, Sonya Rowles of St. Peters, Mo., Clyde Jones of Columbia, Sena Jones a companion of 20 years and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of relatives and friends.
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