Earline G. McKee was born on March 26, 1930 in Kirkland, WA to Earl and Mary (Worrel) Morris. She and her older sister Betty and younger sister Creta grew up in Yakima, WA. The 3 girls were typical siblings and spent their time being with each other and enjoying family and friends. She attended Yakima High School where she met the love of her life Keith McKee. They both graduated high school in 1949 and were married on January 7, 1950. Earline worked as a telephone operator while they made their home in Yakima. They soon welcomed their son Allen Glenn McKee in 1952, followed by son Craig Bradley McKee in 1954, and daughter Denise Earline McKee in 1955. Keith’s job as an insurance salesman took them to Casper, WY in 1957 followed by a move to Laramie, WY, where their son Brian Keith McKee was born in 1959. She had her hands full with 4 children under 7 years of age. The family made two more moves, from Laramie to Seattle, WA, and finally to Spokane, WA where she made her home for 56 years. With every move she devoted herself to setting up a happy home with home cooked meals and treats, sewing clothes for her family, volunteering for school activities, becoming a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and becoming involved in the local Presbyterian Church. She devoted herself to being a wonderful wife and mother to her family. Although we didn’t have a lot of money, we were never poor. Their “make do” attitude and creative talents made sure we were never without anything we needed. She never missed a football, basketball, or baseball game. The family enjoyed weekend camping trips, Sunday drives, and visiting family wherever they may have been living at the time. Every summer usually involved a major road trip to our Dad’s work-related convention, which we made in to our vacation. These trips took us to San Diego, Mexico, New York, Toronto Canada, Denver, and all the states in between, to name a few. We often made these trips with our Uncle Bob, Aunt Barbara, and cousins Steve, Lowell. and Kim McKee because the two brothers worked for the same life insurance company.
The only thing she was not very good at was reading maps, which resulted in a few “off the beaten path” moments.
Earline enjoyed many outside organizations and was a member of the Syringa Club (local cooking and charity club), and also a member of Eastern Star. She became a Daughter of the American Revolution member by researching and putting the proper paperwork together for several of her ancestors. Mom was a faithful volunteer in the Gift Shop at Holy Family Hospital for 35 years. Her name is on a plaque displayed there. She was a room mother, PTA officer, church Deacon, Team Mom for various sport activities, and volunteered for whatever else her family and community needed.
After her beloved husband passed away unexpectedly in 1978, Earline rejoined the work force. She became a transport cook for the Spokane school system. She would pick up the food at a larger school with an in-house kitchen, and transport it to a smaller elementary school with no kitchen so the kids could have a hot lunch. Later she transferred to Shadle Park High School and worked for the lunch program there. She enjoyed the companionship of other women and being around all the kids.
After retirement Earline enjoyed international travel visiting in countries where her son Allen and family were stationed: Germany, Australia, Panama, and England. She also traveled to Israel, Egypt, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Hawaii and California with her daughter Denise and her family.
Our Mom was the kind of Mom everyone else wished their Mom was like. She was always there when you needed her, was kind, supportive, inspiring, and most of all loving. She wasn’t afraid of hard work or trying new things. She had a firm view of ethics and morality, and had a strong faith in Christ. She wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion or tell you what or how something should be done. She believed cleanliness was next to Godliness, and kept her house spic and span.
Earline is survived by her sons Army LTC (Retired) Allen (Sherri) McKee of Greenbank, WA, Craig (Susan) McKee of Moses Lake, WA, Brian McKee of Spokane, WA, and daughter Denise (John) Carter of Buckeye, AZ; grandchildren Jill McKee, David Farmer, Neal (Sandra) McKee, Kristy (Mustafa) Carter, and Derrick Carter; great grandchildren Ella McKee (parent Jill McKee), Garrett Farmer (parent David Farmer), and Finlay McKee (parents Neal and Sandra), her sister Creta Maier, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 27 years Keith McKee, her parents Mary and Earl Morris, her sister and brother-in-law Betty and Tom Mastel, her grandson Scott McKee (son of Allen and Sherri), her granddaughter Danette Farmer (daughter of Allen and Sherri), and her daughter in law Darla McKee (wife of Brian), as well as other extended family and numerous friends.
When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them but to live with the love they left behind, and our Mother left plenty of that for everyone.
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