Galen McKee

GALEN EARL MCKEE

Galen Earl McKee, age 90, of Kahoka, MO, formerly of Colchester, IL, died on Saturday, August 7, 2004 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law at rural Kahoka, MO.

He was born July 20, 1914 in Wenatchee, WA, one of six children of Earl Morton and Lola Gertrude Hurst McKee.

He married Orrell M. Welsh on July 3, 1937 and they were the parents of three children.

She preceded him in death in 1976 and on August 5, 1978, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Scott Heikes at Carthage.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, of Kahoka, MO; one son, G. Neill McKee and his wife, Lois, of Kahoka, MO; one brother, Fahy McKee and his wife, Helen, of Wenatchee, WA; four grandchildren, John Earl McKee and his wife, Amy, of Mackinaw, IL, Anthony Neill McKee and his wife, Tara, of Kahoka, MO, Matthew Wade McKee and his wife, Tina Jo, of Kahoka, MO, and Sarah Elaine McKee of Colchester, IL; three step grandchildren, Kevin L. Ogle and his wife, Carol Ann,of Falls Church, VA, Susan M. Harris and her husband, Jan, of Creston, IA, and Loyd W. Ogle of Des Moines, IA; eight great grandchildren: Ariel, Connor, Colin, Karcyn, James, Justin, and Meghan McKee, and, Jessamie Cameron; five step great-grandchildren: Nathaniel and Jeremiah Ogle, and, G. G., R.J., and Claire Harris; as well as other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Orrell; two sons, Charles Roy and Paul Wayne McKee; two brothers, Samuel Hurst McKee and Walter Warder McKee; and, two sisters, Esther McKee and Letha Ruth McKee.

Galen graduated from high school in Wenatchee, WA and from 1933 to 1937 served in the U.S. Marine Force. He and Orrell moved to Illinois following their marriage where he farmed with his father-in-law and ran a locker plant and also a small tavern in Blandinsville. In 1948 they purchased a small hotel in Colchester which they operated for a number of years. He had worked for King Seely in Macomb many years before retiring in 1978. Following his retirement he became a registered Pharmacy Technician in the state of Missouri, assisting his son at his pharmacy in Kahoka They had resided in Colchester until this past April when his health began to deteriorate and it was necessary that they move to Kahoka to be with family.

Galen was a member of the First Christian Church in Colchester and member of the Elk's Lodge # 1009 at Macomb, IL where he was Elk of the Year in 1989-90. He loved to garden, play cards, and keep track of pro-sports. He was particularly fond of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at 7 p.m. at Jones Mortuary in Colchester, IL with Rev. Bill Mitchell officiating. Cremation will follow with inurnment to be at a later date in Blandinsville, IL.

Visitation will be after noon on Tuesday at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka, MO with family receiving friends there from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Wednesday at Jones Mortuary in Colchester.

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Clark Co. Veteran's Memorial, Clark Co. Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Community College, or the Elk's Scholarship Fund at Macomb.