Richard Dick McKee

Richard “Dick” McKee, age 79, of Scottsbluff, passed away Monday, April 3, 2006, at his home. A memorial service will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, April 22, 2006, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel, Scottsbluff with Pastor Ronald Nuss-Warren officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Nebraska National Guard. Cremation has taken place at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory, Scottsbluff according to his wishes. Dick was born August 26, 1926, in Mitchell Valley to Nelson and Minnie (Smith) McKee. He received his education in Henry and Lyman Nebraska schools. Dick joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving aboard the USS ROSS DD 563 in the South Pacific. Upon returning to the Gulf of Leyte to take General Douglas McArthur back to Leyte, the ROSS took two suicide airplanes, forward and aft decks. The ship then hit two magnetic mines, killing all seamen below deck. Dick and the surviving injured were transferred to the Chickasaw, a sister destroyer. Later they were transferred to the Battlewagon US PENNSYLVANIA and went through the Sagara Straight sea battle. From there Dick was transferred to a hospital ship, taking the injured to Los Angeles, and then transported to Norfolk, Virginia where he received his Navy discharge. In all, this group of seamen went through 286 air raids on the USS ROSS. Upon receiving his discharge from the Navy, Dick joined the Merchant Marines and served aboard George T. Angel and went back to the South Pacific. After receiving his discharge he returned to Scottsbluff. He worked for Michael Swanson Brady Potato Company, Fred and Carl Swarzkopf Trucking Company driving semi trucks, and for Jack Ocomas in North Platte, Nebraska, driving to the West and East coasts. Dick joined the Scottsbluff Fire Department in 1955, working his way through the ranks from fireman to Assistant Fire Chief. He was a fire training instructor for the State of Nebraska and taught fire school at Grand Island Regional Fire School for paid and volunteers of the state. He was a Deputy State Fire Marshal for the State of Nebraska and worked the western part of Nebraska. After retiring from the Scottsbluff Fire Department Dick went to work for Scottsbluff Sash and Door running semi to the Colorado Mountains. Also, he drove for other trucking companies: Hergert Milling, Western Sugar Company during beet harvest, Panhandle Cartage Company and Aulick Trucking. Dick was an honorary member of the Scottsbluff Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years. He was a member of the American Legion, and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #10. For the past several years he had been driving the Disabled American Veterans van to the Hot Springs and Cheyenne VA Hospitals. Dick enjoyed woodwork, flower and vegetable gardening. He is survived by his wife Marian of 43 years; daughters Vicki Poyner of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Audrey McKee of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brother Charles McKee of Chadron, Nebraska; two grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and by his long time friend Bernard Straetker of 50 years. He was preceded in death by his father and mother; two brothers Eugene McKee and Virgil McKee; and one sister Evan Jean Heath.