James Phillip McKee 65, of Mt. Zion passed away with his family by his side at 3:20 a.m., September 1, 2011 in his residence.
A service to celebrate Jim’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Camp Wilson Four Square Church, Harristown, IL with Pastor Brian Canaday officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Macon County Honor Guard and the US Military Honor Team. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Zion Foundation for Quality Education or the American Cancer Society.
Jim was born September 29, 1945 in Clinton, IL the son of John C. and Catherine N. (Stone) McKee. He married Judith “Judy” Elliott on May 20, 1971. He served in the US Air Force as an aircraft electrician and flew tdy to Europe during the Vietnam War. After his service to his country he entered the IBEW Local #146 apprenticeship program. He worked as an electrician. Jim was a forty year member with the union. He retired in 2006. While an active member he served on the executive board apprenticeship committee and was also an instructor. Jim had served as the electrical inspector for the Village of Mt. Zion and for the Macon County Building Inspectors office. Jim proudly served his community on the Mt. Zion School Board from 1983 till 1991 and then again from 1993 until 2009. While on the school board he held many positions including President, Vice-President, Secretary and member and during his tenure he only missed one board meeting. He also served on the Mt. Zion TIFF Committee as a member.
Surviving is his wife: Judy of Mt. Zion; son: James P. McKee II and his wife Melissa of Bethany; daughter: Mary Sapp and her husband Josh of Decatur; brothers: Bill McKee and his wife Roberta of Sidney and Denny McKee and his wife Pat of Decatur; grandchildren: Emily Mears, Madison Sapp, Jackson Sapp, Caeleb McKee and Savannah McKee.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and will be greatly missed.
| cjm his grandson |
a litttle tumble |
December 12, 2011 |
when I,my dad ,and Papa went to uncle bill's old house to do electrical work he tumbled of the ladder he
was on and fell into a haystack
!
He took us to Springfield Il. all the time.
| James P. Mckee |
pet tumble weed |
November 26, 2011 |
PaPa used to say that he was sooooooooooo poor when he was young. He
had a tumbleweed for a pet.
