Lawrence Lee McBee Sr.

The family requests that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers gifts may be sent to Church Service Center of Avon Park, 198 West Walnut Street, Avon Park, FL 33825, or New Lexington Lions Club c/o Joseph Ogden, 123 S. Main Street, New Lexington, OH, 43764, or Elks National Foundation, c/o BPO Elks of the USA, 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue Chicago, IL 60614-1889 or https://enf.elks.org/donate

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Lawrence L. McBee, 94, died December 31, 2011, in Richardson, Texas. Mr. McBee was born February 13, 1917, in Little Falls, West Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II where he earned the Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. While overseas Mr. McBee met Lt. Rita Lauricella who was serving in the Army Nurse Corps. They were married in Italy in 1945.

Larry and Rita McBee moved to New Lexington and opened the McBee Jewelry store in 1951. New Lexington was the home where they reared their family and were active in civic affairs. For many years Mr. McBee was the master of ceremonies for the annual Lions Club Minstrel. He was active in the Elks, serving as Exalted Ruler of the local lodge, later as the President of the Ohio Elks Association, and in various national offices including the Grand Trustees. Mr. McBee was always active with Elks charities including Youth Leadership and Scholarship programs and the Elks National Home

The McBees sold the jewelry store in 1982 and later moved to Florida. They settled at Crystal Lake Club, Avon Park, Florida, in 1989. They were active in the Union Congregational Church. Rita McBee died in 2002. From 2003-2009 Mr. McBee enjoyed the loving companionship of Barbara Valliere of Crystal Lake Club.

Since 2009 Mr. McBee lived with his son Lawrence Jr. (Mick) and family. He is survived by his son Mick and wife Pat of Richardson, Texas, and daughters, Patricia McBee and husband Brad Sheeks of Philadelphia, PA, Teri Wiechart of Defiance, OH, and Pegi Gaudet and husband Bubba of New Orleans, LA, and his brother, Kenneth McBee of Fairmont, WV. Mr. McBee has four grandchildren, Erin McBee and husband David Goldgar, of Harvard, MA, Michael McBee of Richardson, TX, Jennie Sheeks and husband Jason Bethune of Philadelphia, PA, and Kristin Wiechart, of Defiance, OH. There are also four great-grandchildren, Sam Goldgar, Jabril, Assata, and Kam-au Shabazz. He was preceded in death by his wife Rita, brother James McBee, sister Edna Malone, and son-in-law Paul Wiechart.

Private services were held in Texas. Those wishing to send condolences may address them to McBee Family, 3208 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Memorial gifts may be sent to Church Service Center of Avon Park, 198 West Walnut Street, Avon Park, FL 33825, or New Lexington Lions Club c/o Joseph Ogden, 123 S. Main Street, New Lexington, OH, 43764, or Elks National Foundation, c/o BPO Elks of the USA, 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue Chicago, IL 60614-1889 or https://enf.elks.org/donate

Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey Funeral Home, Plano, TX.