Mom passed away in the early morning of April 17, 2024, at her daughter’s home following continued declining health.
Our Mom was born to Jesse Everette (Steve) and Margaret Stevens in Ohio. As a child, she and her family moved several times but always loved sharing time with her extended family who resided in Kentucky. It was there where she and her older sister, Marcia, began their love for Kentucky basketball.
As a child, Mom attended Flenniken Elementary in South Knoxville, then moved to Oak Ridge where she attended both Robertsville Junior High and Oak Ridge High School. During this time in her life, Mom became an avid swimmer, basketball player, and was a member of her school band where she played the clarinet. Mom and her family moved to the beautiful Karns community which she dearly loved in 1963, where she remained until her passing. While attending Karns High School, she made lifelong friends. Throughout the years after graduation, she stayed connected by attending birthday parties, class reunions, making phone calls, and visiting her friends. Mom was named Karns Community Queen in 1964 and in that same year while at Karns High, she met and then married our dad, Charles (Charlie) McBee. Mom and Dad married in September 1964 and then welcomed two daughters, Kimberley and Julie.
Mom was employed at Karns High School, working in the cafeteria from 1976 and leaving not long after the fire that almost destroyed the school. In 1981, Mom began her employment at Park West Hospital, making it her “work home” until she retired after 37 years of service. Several years of her employment was spent in Central Supply, moving to the Gastroenterology Lab (GI), then the Behavioral Senior Health Unit. Mom made many lifelong friends whom she loved and remained close with throughout the entirety of her life. If you were blessed enough to have her as a friend, you had a friend for life.
Mom is now reunited after 29 years with her lifelong love, Charles “Charlie” McBee, Jr.
Vickie is preceded in death by her parents Jesse E. and Margaret Stevens Carringer, an infant half-brother that she never knew, adopted sister, Lois Rose, mother-in-law Anna M. McBee, brothers-in-law, Larry Runyon of Texas and JC Meredith of Karns and nephew Steve Runyon of Texas.
Survivors include daughters and their spouses, Kimberley McBee-Ward and Fred of California, Julie McBee-Fritts and Jason of Karns; grandchildren, Emery Ward of California, and Charles “Chad” Corn of Karns; bonus grandchildren, Abigail Fritts, Morgan Fritts Dawson, (Donnie) of Knoxville; sister, Marcia Stevens Runyon, of Texas; stepsisters, Gloria Carringer Bowman, and Glenda Carringer Langenburg, both of Oak Ridge; sisters-in-laws, Bettie McBee Meredith of Karns, Jenny McBee Fuda of Knoxville; brother-in-law, Jim Rose of Kingston; nephews, Danny, Craig (Maddie) Runyon, and Peyton Runyon, all of Texas, Freddie Meredith and Justin Meredith of Karns, Allen (Michelle) McBee of Andersonville, Steve (Jessica) Rose of Kingston; nieces, Lisa (Mike) Meacham of Texas, Lisa (Darrell) Kitts of Clinton, Kris (Terry) Pettiford of Andersonville; beloved cousins, Judy (Dwight) Moore, Lorena (Dan) Perry all of Indiana and several great grand nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Berry Highland West, 9913 Sherrill Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37932 on Tuesday, April 23rd with receiving of friends from 5-7pm with service immediately following. Family friend and Pastor David Stooksbury will be officiating.
A private interment will be held Wednesday April 24, 2024, at the McBee Family Cemetery.
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