Arnold James "Jim" McKee, Jr.

Arnold James "Jim" McKee, Jr., of Wilmington, NC, and East Orland, ME, passed away on May 13, 2021 after a brief illness.

A son of the late Arnold James McKee, Sr. and Margaret Moulton McKee, he was born in Bangor, Maine on August 7, 1943. He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard M. McKee.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Spencer McKee of Wilmington, NC, son, Brett James McKee (Alina) of East Orland, ME, daughter Sarah M.  Mosqueda (John) of St. Petersburg, FL and son, Seth Charles McKee (Esther) of Stillwater, OK; and grandchildren Jesse C. McKee, Andrew V. McKee, Charlie W. Mosqueda and Jamie H. Mosqueda.

Also, his twin sister, Margaret McKee Brown (Melvin) of Orrington, ME, a sister, Virginia McKee Deering (Beau) of Boston; brother, Robert M. McKee of Lincolnville, ME; brother-in-law, Carroll A. Spencer (Sherry) of Wilmington, NC, numerous nieces and nephews, and best friend, Wayne Loots of Willow Spring, NC.

He attended Hebron Academy and graduated from Camden (ME) High School in 1961. He earned a BS degree in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Maine. He was a retired CPA and CMA.

Following positions as controller at Burgess Forbes Paint Co. in Portland, ME, and auditor for Price Waterhouse in Boston and Ernst and Ernst in Portland, ME, Jim switched to academic accounting, earning a Ph.D. in Accounting at Oklahoma State University.

During his career he taught accounting at North Carolina State University, the University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California, Auburn University, Southern Maine University and College of Charleston (SC). After retiring, he and his wife moved from their home on Seabrook Island, SC to Wilmington, NC.

Throughout his career, with steadfast dedication to both teaching and research he tackled difficult goals, frequently stating, “My quest is to make accounting understandable for all.” To that end he interjected humor in his lectures, loaded students up with anachronyms and hopped on computer-based learning as soon as it became available. He was intrigued by the use of multi-media in academic accounting instruction.

As much as Jim loved teaching, he also relished serious research, working nights and weekends in pursuit of that. His articles were published in The Accounting Review and numerous other refereed accounting journals. That included six articles based on his analysis of the auditing of televangelist Jim Baker’s PTL ministry.

Through the years he presented his published research at accounting conferences in the U.S., Great Britain, Spain, Australia and Canada.

A history buff, Jim switched his focus for a time to Maine history, specifically the ice industry period in Maine and along the Eastern seaboard.

As a son of Maine, he was devoted to its trivia and past while also trying to experience everything that is Maine. That included ice fishing, hiking Mount Katahdin and snowmobiling in the North Woods where he became an honorary member of the Cuxabexis Fish and Hunt Club, even though he did not fish or hunt!

He also was knowledgeable about the American Revolution, the Old West, famous American mobsters and the Civil War.

As much as Jim enjoyed travel, he was most content at the family retreat on Toddy Pond in Maine. There at the hilltop timber frame cabin he created, he and his wife Marilyn would listen to loons and view awesome sunsets over the water. He delighted in showing the grandkids how to dig worms and harvest wild blueberries. To them he was “Daddy Mack.”

Jim will be remembered for his keen sense of humor, broad grins, love of family and avid pursuit of knowledge.

Celebrations of Jim’s life will be held later in Wilmington, NC, and in Maine. Memorial donations can be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park, Suite 10, Raleigh, N.C., or to your preferred charity.

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