Dr. Flin C. McGhee

Dr. Flin C. McGhee, 87, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away after a long illness on February 25, 2021 at Colonial Village in Overland Park, Kansas. A private funeral ceremony will be held at McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel on March 3, 2021 at 10 a.m. with a burial at the Prince of Peace Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel Facebook page.

Flin was born on October 23, 1933 in Star City, Arkansas, to Flin and Bonnie Turner McGhee. He grew up in Houston and Brookshire, Texas, and married Mary Frances Givens in 1957 in Brookshire. Flin’s academic curiosity was a hallmark of his life. He earned a B.A. in History from the University of Houston, a M.S. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Flin taught Chemistry for 34 years at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, acting for the last five years of his career as Division Chair for the Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics Division. He cared deeply about providing his students with the best educational experience possible, and he remained heavily involved in various organizations to achieve this goal throughout his career. This included serving as a long-time member and the three-time president of the Metropolitan Community College District Academic Senate and as the Chairman for two years of the Physical Science Section for the Missouri Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

Flin served 24 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. He retired as Chief of Laboratory Services with the 325th General Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Army Reserve, at the rank of Colonel. He was a member of the Overland Park Nova Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and was elected as Worthy Patron three times. While Flin was a Southern Baptist for most of his life, he converted to the Roman Catholic faith in 2004 with his wife, Mary, and joined Holy Spirit Catholic Church, where he remained a parishioner until his death.

Flin loved traveling for months at a time across the United States and Caribbean with his wife, Mary, after retirement. He treasured attending the activities and events of his grandchildren with Mary, as well as spending time with his family.

Flin was preceded in death by his parents, Flin McGhee and Bonnie Turner Matzke, and his stepfather, Pete Matzke; his daughter, Mary Katherine McGhee; and his brother, Al Matzke. He is survived by his wife, Mary McGhee; his daughter, Renee McGhee-Lenart; son-in-law, Joseph Lenart Jr.; and his two grandchildren, Joseph Lenart III, New York, New York, and Shanley Lenart, Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is also survived by his sisters, Annie Edens, Columbus, Texas, and Betty Piehler, Lawrence, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.

https://catholiccharitiesks.org/donate/