John Brown Mckee, Jr.

John Brown McKee, Jr., age 89, of 200 Lillian Lane, Lynchburg, Virginia passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frances Martin McKee, as well as three sons, John (Jay) McKee, III and his wife Nancy, and Michael McKee and his wife, Bonnie, all of Forest, Virginia, David McKee and his wife, Charlotte of Blacksburg, Virginia, one daughter, Kathryne McKee Simpson and her husband, Bryan of Bristol, Tennessee, eight grandchildren, Abby McKee, Mandy McKee, Lauren McKee Falwell, Gregory Simpson, Scott McKee, Rebecca Simpson, Brooke McKee and Blake McKee, a sister, Harriet McKee of Cincinnati, and two brothers, Hugh McKee of Scottsburg, Indiana and Dennis McKee of Sarasota, Florida.

John served in the Army Air Force during World War II. After the war and being honorably discharged in 1945, he graduated from Washington and Lee University with a business degree in 1950. His business career began in sales with Gary Steel and Trailmobile and included nine years as owner and operator of McKee Shell Service Station.

John earned a masters degree in education from Lynchburg College and spent nineteen years as a teacher of hundreds of fourth and fifth graders, mostly at Robert S. Payne Elementary School. In retirement, John spent three additional years working with homebound students throughout the school system.

John never met a person with whom he couldn\"™t strike up a conversation. A music lover and avid left-handed drummer, John and Frances attended virtually every music performance in Lynchburg over the years, becoming friends with the likes of Ray Anthony, Roy Burns, and Michael Berkowitz. John was an avid fan of Virginia Tech football and Cincinnati Reds baseball.

John rarely sat still, always having a project in the works to which he brought his fun-loving spirit and unique sense of creativity. Living in an older house for nearly thirty years, John used chicken coop wood for many repairs on that house and others. In his later years at Valley View Retirement Community, he enjoyed gardening or working on jigsaw puzzles every day.

A faithful member of Centenary United Methodist Church, John was a member of the Administrative Board and served as a Sunday School teacher and Lay Leader. He served over five thousand hours as a volunteer at Virginia Baptist Hospital.

John spent his life in service to God, his loving wife and family, and his many students and friends. His passing brings the peace that comes from the knowledge that his life was well lived in loving service to others.

The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Doctors David Cannon, John Halpin, Thomas Nygaard, Matthew Sackett, David Frantz and Grace Newton, Garland Harper of the Centenary United Methodist Church Stephen Ministry, and the staff of Valley View Retirement Community and Heritage Green Assisted Living. A special thank you is extended to Gentle Shepherd Hospice staff for their loving care.

A celebration of life for John will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday April 17, 2013 at Centenary United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Ecklund officiating. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service. Interment is private at Spring Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice.