Elizabeth "Bette" Ann McGee

Elizabeth “Bette” McGee passed away peacefully in her bed on November 1st at the age of 90. She is survived by her three children: Scott McGee and his wife Dianne, David McGee and his wife Lisa, and Darcie Innes and her husband Bruce, seven grandchildren: Bethany Bonnemere and her husband Demar, Shannon Ordonez, Ali McGee, Alexander Innes and his wife Sara, Rebekah McGee, Jeremy Innes and Kaitlyn Innes, and six great grandchildren: Angel Ordonez, Nicolle Ordonez, Andres Ordonez, Ryker Parrish, Ellie Ordonez, and Wesley Ordonez.

Bette was born in Wilmington, NC, on September 3, 1932 to Retha Elizabeth and Joseph Phelps. She grew up in Catholic boarding schools as her single mother was working full time. She later attended and graduated from Appleton High School. She married Robert D´Arcy McGee in 1954 in Appleton, WI. They had three children, Scott, David, and Darcie.

In 1980, she and Bob were founding members of Peace Presbyterian Church, which became their spiritual home, and where she was a pillar of the church community. She led the children´s ministry for decades, teaching generation after generation about Jesus Christ. She was ¨Nan” to her grandchildren, but also to countless others whom she loved with the love of Christ, and whom she considered family.

For 50 years, she worked with Intervarsity to minister to international students at NC State. In addition to international dinners, bible studies, sewing classes and yard sales, she opened up her home and welcomed students in. Dozens of students lived with her over the years, and you could find people from all over the world eating Sunday lunch at her table. She would strike up a conversation with anyone she heard with a foreign accent (and could usually pinpoint the exact region they were from). She didn´t set foot outside the US until her late 70s, but she had a heart for the nations, and the Lord brought the nations to her.

She had a quick wit, and would often catch you off guard with an unexpected joke. She loved to be around people, and could often be found chatting with friends over a game of Bridge, Scrabble, or Quirkle. She adored her family, and bragged about them every opportunity she got. The only thing she loved more than her family was her savior, Jesus Christ. You couldn´t meet her without knowing her love for God. A prayer in her journal reads ¨Lord, today as I meet people, let me leave a bit of Jesus with them.¨ Day after day, she did just that.

Today, she is dancing with joy in the house of God, reunited with her beloved Bob and countless friends who have gone before. Freed from earthly worries and cares, she delights eternally in the presence of her Heavenly Father, the God and Savior she adores. We long for the day when we will see her again in glory, feasting together around the table of the King.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 1 pm at Peace Church in Cary, NC. Family will receive friends following in the church Fellowship Hall. For those unable to attend, the church's livestream link will be added below, within the service box information, closer to the day of service.

The family asks that (in lieu of flowers) donations be made to: Andy and Cheryl White with InterVarsity International Student Ministry / Crossworld Ministries or toward the Peace Church Welcome Center. All donations can be made through Peace Church.

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