Karol Deene McGee

Karol Deene McGee (Mosshart) of Palm Harbor, FL passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the age of 84. She was born on December 23, 1939, in Westmoreland, Kansas to the late Charles Roger Sr. and Lillian Kelly Mosshart, and grew up in Pottawatomie, Norton and Rooks counties in Kansas. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1956, where she was active in FHA, band, chorus and was a baton twirling Majorette. She went on to study at Kansas University earning a BS in Business, Secretarial Major and a teaching certificate in Business.

While at KU Karol met Phillip McGee. As stories were told, they were introduced by friends over a friendly evening of bridge playing. Phil and Karol were married in August 1964. Phil and Karol lived in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, and Des Moines before retiring in Tampa Bay Florida.

Bridge continued to be an immense passion for both Phil and Karol throughout their marriage, having taken up duplicate bridge in the 1970’s while living in St. Louis. Their family trips across the US were often planned in conjunction with a bridge tournament. Having earned their Life Masters (Karol reached Sapphire level), they sought certification to direct and teach bridge and combined that with their love of travel to give bridge lessons on several cruises in their later years.

Huge dog lovers, Phil and Karol had several Samoyeds throughout their marriage, a couple of which were Champion show dogs under Phil’s leadership with assistance from Karol and the kids. After retiring they downsized to Bichon Frise and Havanese, that they often referred to as their kids’ siblings.

Phil and Karol retired in 1995 and moved to Florida, where they continued to play bridge regularly, worked the election polls and volunteered at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center until their health made the latter two too difficult. When Phil passed, in 2018, Karol moved into a Senior Living community in Pinellas County, Florida to be closer to her daughter and her family.

Karol is preceded in death by her parents and her devoted husband of 53 years, Phil (2/8/2018). She is survived by her brother Charles Roger (Jean) Mosshart Jr., sister-in-law Collete McGee, son Bret McGee, daughter Kari (Andrew) Campbell, grandson Alexander Campbell and granddaughter Zoe Campbell, as well as several generations of nieces and nephews.