September 9, 1927 –  June 3, 2015  A memorial service for John Calvin McGee of Gainesville is set for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 9th at Meador Funeral Home Chapel in Gainesville with Rev. Hubert Wright officiating. All service arrangements are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home in Gainesville. There will be no visitation services.John, 87, went to be with our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, June 3, 2015. He died at his home in Gainesville, Texas with his beloved wife of 65 years and family members by his side.
John was born in Hollis, Oklahoma on September 9, 1927 to Joyce and Framon McGee. He was a graduate of Childress High School in Childress, Texas. In 1946 he enlisted in the Navy and served as a Fireman First Class. Some of the ships he served on were the USS Princeton, The USS Boxer and The USS Siboney from January 1946 to November 1947.
On November 19, 1949 John married Marsha Anne (M.A.) Maxell in Waldron, Arkansas. After farming for a couple of years, John went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company where he worked and traveled throughout the mid-western states. He was the director of oil well treatment throughout the Permian Basin headquartered in Odessa, Texas. During this time he also worked to receive his associate degree from New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico. After 34 years, he retired from Phillips Petroleum Co. and began consulting for Reef Chemical Company and ReAction Chemical Company.
In 2001, John and Marsha chose Gainesville, Texas as their place of retirement. No matter where he lived, he was always involved in some type of volunteer work. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Gainesville where he served as an usher. At other churches during his life he served as a Sunday School teacher, superintendent of Sunday School and song director. John enjoyed the activities and companionship at the Stanford House and served on their Board of Directors in Gainesville as well as the RSVP Advisory Council until 2014. Always quick with a smile and one of his famous well know sayings, John was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
John loved the outdoors and some of his favorite hobbies were watching sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys, hunting, fishing and wood carving. He was a self-taught wood carver and his creations were much sought after by his friends and family. His carvings often won many blue ribbons at the County Fair in Odessa, Texas. His love of music included singing, playing the guitar and harmonica. John’s passion was his family. He especially loved spending time with all of his daughters and their children. He looked forward to family reunions and getting to visit all of his extended family.
John McGee is survived by his wife, Marsha McGee of Gainesville, Texas; daughters, Sherian Newby and husband, Ron of Gainesville, Jeanne Bayer and husband, Gil of Piedmont, Oklahoma, Susan Smits and husband, Scott of Colleyville, Texas; sister-in-law, Estee Larson of Sherman, Texas; sisters, Franova Burton of Tulia, Texas and Carolyn Gifford of Austin, Texas; and brother, Ted McGee of Happy, Texas. He also leaves eight cherished grandsons, and soon to be sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many more family and friends who will miss him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joyce Cecil McGee and Framon McGee; brother, Harvey McGee; two sisters, Cloy Jackson and Aurelia Denny and his granddaughter, Shannon Newby. “Grief never ends, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, not a lack of faith … It is the price of love.”
Interment will be in Belew Cemetery in Aubrey, Texas. In Lieu of Flowers, the family asked that donations be made in his memory to The Stanford House, 401 W. Garnett St., Gainesville, Texas 76240 or Home Hospice, 316 S. Chestnut St., Gainesville, Texas 76240. http://videos.lifetributes.com/602278