Garey McKee

Garey Dysart McKee, age 84, of Benton, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 11,2022 at the First Baptist Church of Benton, with Rev. Jim Jenkel officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church of Benton, Illinois.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Garey was born on April 27, 1937, in Columbia, Missouri; the son of Albert F. McKee and Helen (Shackleford) McKee. He first married the former Anita Cecilia Dickson on February 2, 1957, together they shared 34 years of marriage until she preceded him in death on March 13, 1991. He would later marry Dora McCalla in 1993 and she preceded him in death in 2001. On May 25, 2002, he married the former Sharon (West) Parkhill; together they were married for 18 years until her death on February 18, 2020.

Garey served his country in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1963, stationed in Baltimore, Maryland.

He completed his college education and received a master’s degree in history from the University of Delaware.

He retired from General Motors Company where he last worked as a purchasing agent in the Northeast United States. Garey was also a former Archeologist.

He was an active member, Deacon, and Sunday School Teacher at the First Baptist Church of Benton. He loved his church and church family.

Garey also enjoyed archeology, geology, genealogy, history, carpentry work, gardening and doing anything outdoors pertaining to yard work. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family. He was also the Membership Chairman for the Franklin County Arts Association.

Surviving are his four children: Heathir McKee of Enumclaw, Washington, Dierdre McKee of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jason McKee of Townsend, Delaware, and Garey McKee of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sherry’s two children: Danny Parkhill and wife Tammy of Benton,  Jennifer Keener and husband Jeff of Benton; grandchildren: Jeffrey Donahe, Anita Donahe, Sean Moran, Nathan Davis, Dustin Parkhill, Brandy Trogolo, Andy Johnson; great-grandchildren: Serenity Parkhill, Adrien Parkhill, Kennedy Parkhill, Brecken Johnson, Forrest Johnson, Hattie Parkhill, Brooklyn Parkhill, Avey Parkhill, Carley Schmidt, Megan Davis and Tobias Davis; a step-brother Donald Cunningham of Booneville, Missouri.

Mr. McKee was preceded in death by his parents; three wives; and a sister Dorothy Tracy.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Benton, 201 South Main Street, Benton, Illinois 62812; and will be accepted at the services, or can be mailed to Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Garey, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

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