On April 12, 1938, Don Ray McGee was born on 20 acres in Birch Tree, Missouri, with Doc Davis delivering him into the world to Ruie Lee (Kelly) and Charlie McGee (alias Bundy Barry Moore). He was the baby brother of six other siblings: Juanita, Bernerd, Olin, Martha Jane “Bo”, Ganes, and Jack McGee.
At an early age, he helped his parents on the farm, milking cows and growing corn. As he entered his teenage years, Don began helping his neighbor, Nig Crider, in various construction jobs and cutting staybolts. At 19, he joined the Army, where he enjoyed serving and seeing new places. He often talked about going to Virginia Beach, training on a Navy ship, and attending a rodeo in Colorado Springs. He also laughed about winning some records from another soldier while playing poker, and going up against another guy in a math contest.
After the military, Don married Bernice Dooley in 1960. Together, they headed to Kansas City, where he got a job doing concrete work. Later, they moved back to Birch Tree, and Don decided to open a tavern in Winona. When they started having children, he closed the tavern. From that point on, Don held several jobs, mostly in the timber business and farming. At this stage, he attended Three Rivers College to receive an Agriculture degree. He also worked to build the new 60 Highway. Later in life, his focus shifted to digging roots to earn extra money until he retired.
He leaves to mourn his passing six children, Dorinda Dawn Sechrest (Don), Larinda Carmen Pierce, Scotty Ray McGee (Deidre), Stacey Ryan McGee (Candra), Kimberly Beth Brake (Jeff), and Van Rex McGee (Shelly); 17 grandchildren, Adam (Megan) Sechrest, Cole (Larissa) Sechrest, Kacey Pierce, Joshua McGee, Carrie (Dane) Sellers, Krista Walton, Meagan (Donna) Titus, Ally (Stuart) Fyffe, Travis (Shelbi) Nichols, Tiffany Patterson, Toni (Ed) Sites, Jeremy Strazdas, Ashley (Matt) Roberts, Matthew (Andrea) Brake, Tesla (Austin) McGee, Kylie McGee, and Lea (George) McGee; 29 great-grandchildren Scarlet Sechrest, Corrie Sechrest, Teddy Sechrest, Tamzyn Killpack, Isabella Phillips, Michael Inman, Ian Sellers, Lyllian Walton, Rintin Walton, Caitlyn Walton, Sofia Patterson, Brodyn Patterson, Jake Thomas, Noah Fyffe, Zoey Fyffe, Avey Fyffe, Piper (Payton) Nichols, Coy Nichols, Bryleigh Nichols, Rylee (Evan) Freeman, Elijah Freeman, Trenton Freeman, Micah Freeman, Charles Roberts, Ellie Roberts, Vivienne Brake, Briella McGivney, Logan Phipps, and Adeline Turner; and three great-great-grandchildren, Bentley, Slater, and Aylin. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Don has enjoyed many hours hunting and fishing with his friends and family, and walking up hills and down hollars to find ginseng and yellow root. His greatest joy has been preaching the gospel. He gave his life to Jesus at St Louis in 1967 and enjoyed seeing people saved, healed, and demons cast out. He was not afraid to tell people about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost! Later in life, he said that God placed him in Pine Hollar, where he continued having brush arbor meetings and serving his God.
