FRANKLIN
Mary Alice McKee joined her husband Donnie in their heavenly home on March 19, 2017. She left this life with her children at her side.
Mary Alice Willard was born on March 13, 1930, in Franklin, daughter of Virgil and Ethel Marie (Hutton) Willard.
She married the love of her life, Cleo Donald McKee, on Feb. 22, 1948, and raised their four children in Franklin over the next 30 years.
Mary attended the First Baptist church, and was a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine, Eastern Star, Cairo Court and Daughters of the American Revolution.
She worked at the Franklin Masonic Home. In addition to yard sales and flea marketing, Mary loved couponing, bingo and every family gathering.
When Donnie retired as Franklin fire chief, they moved to Florida, where they combined business and pleasure by operating a flea market enterprise. In 2007, after 30 years, they returned to Indiana for a second retirement, to be closer to their ever growing family.
Mary is survived by her brother, Dave (Louetta) Willard, sister Sue (Wes) Dewar; sons, Harold (Janice) McKee and Allan (Bobbi) McKee, daughters Becky Ridge (Chelsey Miller) and Carol Patterson. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her status as great-grandmother earned her the family nickname, “GG”, and she served as grandmother and great-grandmother to many more in the extended family.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Donnie McKee; granddaughter, Holli Ridge Laney; grandson, Brock Derek Sierp; son-in-law, Jackie Ridge; as well as three brothers, Virgil, Donald and John; and two sisters, Doris and Frances.
Her greatest enjoyment came from family reunions that she helped to organize. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made for keeping the tradition going in her memory.
The Rev. David Owens will conduct a celebration of Mary’s life at 3 p.m. Thursday at Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and from 2 p.m. to time of service Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Second Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Online condolences may be received at www.flinnmaguire.net.
