Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Roy 'Bud' McGee, 88, a resident of The Dalles, Oregon died at home Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
I was born November 21, 1926 in Bald Knob, Ark. James Walter McGee and Blanch Almeta McGee were my parents. I grew up on a farm and had four brothers and six sisters, I have one sister and one brother living. I went into the military, at age eighteen, for two years, and served 18 months in the Philippines on Luzon Island. In 1946 was discharged and met a beautiful young lady that grew up four miles from where I lived. We were married June 3, 1948, and almost 67 years later we are still going strong and preparing for the best that's still to come.
We raised four children: Debra Coleman of Halsey. Ore.; Gary McGee of Dayton, Ore.; Donna Palmer of The Dalles, Ore., and Fran Nisbet, also of The Dalles, Ore. I have 16 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild.
Betty and I moved from Arkansas to Arizona In 1952. I was saved in 1953 and we attended a Missionary Baptist Church in Chandler, Ariz. We both taught Sunday School because we were asked to teach. We became youth directors for that church, and we had some wonderful times together, saw a lot of young people saved during that time.
I got my education sitting on the seat of a D-7 Caterpillar for some five years. I went to work for International Harvester Company testing heavy equipment. I was laid off, so we moved to Queen Creek, Ariz., and served in a Southern Baptist Church for nine years. We both served as teachers, and Sunday School Directors, bus drivers, and adult teachers. I was ordained Deacon in that church. I was asked to learn the poultry business and I accepted the challenge and worked with Dr. Parker at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. I became manager of the farm where I worked.
We moved to Oregon in 1966. I managed a poultry farm producing eggs. I served in a conservative Baptist church. I served as Deacon Trustee. I taught George Fox College students, young adults and older adults, as many as 100 in a class. Then I took the high schoolers--I had forty high schoolers in that class. What a joy that was! Some of them still remember me as Mr. McGee.
In 1974, I took a job with Carnation Company in Rufus, Ore., and managed a farm there with 160,000 layers. What a job that was! My wife was manager for the processing plant; grading the eggs and shipping them out to stores all over Oregon and Washington. My son, Gary, managed the building and also the sheep. We were there 12 years and Carnation sold out to Nestle Corporation (headquarters in Holland). At one time, I received a reward For best production in the Pacific Northwest, and also was mentioned in the "Who's Who.”
We moved to Prineville, Ore., and with three other partners, put up a Cut-stock Mill. We attended Calvary Baptist Church, and the church lost its Pastor so the church asked me to preach for them. I knew that preaching part because I had been a lay-preacher down through the years. The church liked my preaching, so they called me as pastor and I accepted. It seemed nothing but natural to me because I had served in the church since 1953. We still had our home in Rufus, Ore., our roots seemed to be there. So, we moved back to Rufus and served there for some time.
I was asked to preach in Bingen, Wash., and after some time they called me as a pastor. I was there four and a half years.
I resigned and moved back to Rufus in our home. Truett Allen resigned the Rufus church and moved to The Dalles. The church called me to be their pastor, and I accepted. I was there two years and two months. My wife and I have served in the church since 1953. That was our joy all through these years, and it still is! Amen and Amen!
Visitation will be held Friday, November 20, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home, 1100 Kelly Ave., The Dalles, OR 97058.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:30 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2819 W 10th St., The Dalles, OR 97058.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lottie Moon Missions c/o Emmanuel Baptist Church.
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