James R McGhee

In 1985, with Elsie Macie Taylor Bird Fannon yet spending summers in her Kenwood house in Greeneville, Tennessee, they chose to return to the climate and four seasons they appreciated in Greene County and Blount County, Tennessee.

James was the last of six electrical engineers of the 1943 University of Tennessee graduates and the youngest who worked for Alcoa, his one job, until he retired from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when 66 years old as “Technical Purchasing Agent – Electrical”. In 1938, he graduated with 15 others at the 11th Annual Commencement of Blount County Lanier High School. Their class flower was the yellow tulip and their motto was: “Those who reach the top must first climb the hill.”

Survivors include his wife of 67 years: Arlene Bird McGhee; son and daughter-in-law: Robert and Kathi Flood McGhee of Austin, Texas; daughter: Kelli Reagan McGhee of Austin, Texas; two sisters: Dorothy McGhee Talbott of Maryville, Tennessee and Ruth McGhee DeGroat of Rosenburg, Oregon; sister-in-law: Marie McGhee of Florida; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

He was married November 30, 1944 in Dr. E.E. Willey Jr.’s First Methodist Church by Carpenter’s Camp Ground Methodist Minister Harold Harris, who later became a District Superintendant.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester (known as Chet) Andrew and Pearl Lane McGhee; our brothers: Fred McGhee, Homer McGhee, Hoard McGhee, and Donald McGhee; and two sisters: Leah McGhee and Etheleen McGhee.

We have been grateful to special people here and Matlacha, Florida: the Roy and Lucille Harrisons, Dean Payne, Mildred Henard, the late Joseph Bewley, Billy Broyles, and Joyce McLain families and others.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Carpenter’s Camp Ground United Methodist Church Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee.

There will be no formal visitation; however friends may stop by the funeral home from 4-6 p.m. Saturday to sign the guest register.

Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery by 2:15 p.m. Sunday for the committal service.