James M McKee

James M McKee, Jr. age 84, passed away Friday, May 8, 2015 in Fort Worth. Mr. McKee was born in Rio Vista, Texas, raised in Fort Worth, the son of James and Vandalee McKee. He was a lifelong resident of Fort Worth.
In his early years, James would work at the local grocery store in White Settlement, and after building a cart on wheels started his own business delivering groceries to apartments and homes. He met his lovely wife at a movie theater in White Settlement, they were married in 1950 at Terrace Acres Church. In 1951 he joined the Army and was involved in the Korean War.
After service with the Army, Mr. McKee had the opportunity to join the Lear Siegler Company and spent many years traveling the country in the Aero Space business.  He not only took pride in his business, but truly relished the friends he made during his time in business. Over the next 40 years he continued working in this field and even after retirement was called back out to the Volt Aero Space Division in Grand Prairie as temporary Consultant.
Mr. McKee had a passion for building things, houses, tables, porches, you name it. He loved the outdoors and always wanted to be outside building or working on something.
An avid gardener, he planted, picked, crated and sold thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables over the years and would drive hundreds of miles for a pickup load of the best blackberries or corn, then James and his wife Jean could be found back at home canning jelly and shucking corn.
Mr. McKee is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nelma Jean McKee, sons, Randy McKee and wife Nancy, Russell McKee and wife Kathy, grandchildren, Nicole King, Tanner Thornton, Chris McKee, Austin McKee, Josh McKee and his sister, Donnie Wilber.


Funeral: 2:00 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel. Interment in Long Creek Cemetery. Visitation 6-8 pm Monday at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel.