Thomas McKee was my father and was born on December 13, 1928 and raised in Wilmington, NC. At 24 years of age he served in the US Army as a Chaplain’s Assistant in the Korean War. He graduated from Wilmington College in 1959 with an Associate in Arts degree and earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters in Arts Education from East Carolina College in 1965. At 34 years of age he married Jacqueline Godwin. When he was 37 years of age I came along and a family was made.
Growing up a school teacher’s son was a little different. Skipping school or misbehaving in school was not an option since he knew everybody. My father taught language arts and social studies to many junior high school children at Tileston and Lake Forest Schools. He was an educator at heart and not only taught school children for 31 years but also taught Sunday School for 34 years. He held many positions and served on multiple committees in the church from lay leader and administrative board chairperson to being a member in the choir. He also helped lead a Boy Scout Troop and coach a church Little League baseball team. Dad enjoyed RV-style camping (with an air conditioner and a real bed), league bowling, reading, crossword puzzles, making homemade spaghetti, and watching old war movies and the Andy Griffith Show.
Dad was a godly man who led by example. He gave my family a strong legacy and taught us many things in his life. He instilled in me love and left a life in a son to put into his two grandchildren that he loved so much. Dad was preceded in death by his parents (Thomas and Hazel McKee) and leaves behind to cherish his memory a loving wife of 48 years (Jacqueline McKee), a son (Stephen McKee and wife Janeen), adoring grandchildren (Gracen and Branson McKee), a sister (Elsie Horn and husband Louis of Wilmington, NC), in-laws who were more like brothers and sisters to him (Wynona Ennis of Benson, NC, Mary Gray and husband Grant of Boiling Springs Lake, NC, Annie Woodruff of Raleigh, NC, Erma Godwin of Coats, NC, Edna Godwin of Fairfax, VA, and PG Godwin of Arlington, VA), many nieces and nephews, and a faithful Yorkie named Sassy. Dad also had everyday friends from the senior bowling league and restaurants that he would frequent that are going to miss him.
He never kept me from doing anything I wanted to do, he just wanted me to be true to myself, and do what I thought was right. My dad, the teacher, the legend, will be greatly missed. Dad really enjoyed the “Welcome Home” banner that his grandchildren made for him. We raised that banner twice at home and once at Hospice but it has been raised for the final time in Heaven. Thomas McKee, Dad, “Welcome Home.”
A time of visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, June 12, 2011 from 6 until 8 PM at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service, Oleander Chapel. Funeral services for Mr. McKee will be held on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 2 PM at Pine Valley United Methodist Church. Pastor Randy Innes will officiate. A graveside service with Military Honors will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pine Valley United Methodist Church 3788 Shipyard Boulevard Wilmington, NC or Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center 1414 Physicians Drive Wilmington, NC.
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