Searcy Owen McGee

February 24, 1933 - April 17, 2026

Went to be with his Lord and Savior due to natural causes on the morning of April 17, 2026 at the home of his daughter who cared for him with the utmost respect and devotion.

Owen was born to Ennadend (Summerford) and Surcy McGee on February 24th, 1933 in Grimes County, Texas. Being the oldest of three children raised on the family farm wasn’t easy, but Owen focused on the positive. He loved to fish, swim, and hunt along the Brazos River bottom. Having many adventures as a child, he loved to charm his children, grandchildren, and anyone in range of his booming voice with these escapades, establishing himself as a renowned storyteller.

Having heard the Dow Chemical Company was hiring, he left Courtney Texas and hitchhiked to West Columbia Texas at the age of eighteen where he met the love of his life, Betty Royse. They married on October 5th, 1952 and separated only by Betty’s death 69 years later in 2021. Betty and Owen had three children: Richard Kevin, Stephen Douglas, and Kimberly Alane. Although he was raised with no spiritual guidance at all, he and Betty were converted by friends in 1960. They joined the church of Christ in West Columbia and Owen became a committed servant of the Lord. He preached and taught for years in Brazoria county eventually serving as a deacon and elder.

Owen’s love for fishing didn’t stop at the Brazos river. He and Betty would often go offshore in small boats to catch snapper and kingfish. It turns out Betty loved fishing as much as he did, maybe more! They both loved the outdoors, whether boating, fishing, skiing, or camping; they were always together. In 1969 they bought their first sail boat launching a new phase of life. In 1970, after moving to the Bastrop bayou outside Angleton, Owen discovered The Brazosport Yacht Club and racing sailboats became a passion almost as strong as his love for the Lord. And he was good at it! Winning many, in fact most of the races he entered, including a national championship in his class at the Houston Yacht Club in 1975.

His passion for racing over time became a passion for cruising. In 1983, having worked for Dow for 33 years, Owen retired from the Meter and Relay department and bought the boat he and Betty would eventually live on, naming it Hiatus. He continued to work for several years as an electrical inspector on various projects around the country. Selling their home on Bryan Beach and living on board at Bridge Harbor Yacht Club, they prepared for maritime life, eventually sailing away from Freeport in 1994 on their 39-footboat. Cruising up and down the east coast and throughout the Caribbean, they provided dozens of incredible tropical vacations and countless fresh-speared fish dinners for children, grandchildren, and friends. Their 22-year Hiatus ended in 2016 when Owen, at age 83, determined he was physically unable to continue living aboard. He and Betty sold their boat in Panama, returning to the familiar Brazos River Bottom in Brazoria county where he took up bicycle riding, continued boating, and became the reigning domino champion among his peers at the Lake Jackson Community Center.

Owen McGee has left a legacy that has already lasted for four generations. His love for the Lord and for the church Christ died for was the most important thing in his life. As a young Christian, he broke a generational cycle of alcoholism and abuse to become the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather his family and friends loved and respected. He taught his children by instruction and example to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul and to love their neighbor as themselves. He will be remembered and missed by those who knew him and for many generations to come.

Owen is preceded in death by his wife and parents. He is survived by their daughter, Kim Demland; his two sons and their wives, Rick & Kim McGee and Steve & Shanna McGee; and six grandchildren with their spouses, Maia & Rylan Palmer, Stephanie & Bryan Henslee, Richard McGee, Sabrina & Jeremy Ruckel, Chase & Tara Demland, Ryan & Kristen Demland; and thirteen great grandchildren.

His memorial service will be held at 10am on Friday, April 24th at the Church of Christ in Brazoria.