Martha Lynn McGhee

Martha Lynn (Dee Dee) McGhee died on February 16 at home in San Antonio surrounded by loving family. Despite battling cancer for several months, Dee Dee retained her wit, smile and grace until quietly and peacefully passing to a new life.

Dee Dee was born in Portageville, MO in 1941, the first of three children of L. Faherty and Gracile Moore Pinkley. After graduation from Portageville High School, she attended Webster College in St. Louis and graduated with a BS in Sociology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. She enjoyed and took pride in her years as a stewardess with Delta Airlines, her work in the custom picture frame business, as well her time assisting her husband, John, in three different heavy-duty truck dealerships.

Dee Dee was an avid reader and Hollywood savant, devotee of the movie business, from the first talkies to current days. Everyone counted on her review and suggestion of the latest to watch and read. She was very competitive, whether in a board game, cards, tennis, or any contest of physical or mental challenge.

Dee Dee and her dog joined the Delta Society, now Therapy Animals of San Antonio Inc, in 1998. Years before, suffering with the pain and grief after the loss of her father, a special gift arrived and, in Dee Dees quiet and heartfelt words, "John came in and placed a small round ball of fluff in my lap; he knew I needed Gabriel Grant McGhee." The healing relationship between animals and humans was very real and, from this experience, Dee Dee and Gabe became heavily involved in facilitating this message to others. Dee Dee spent countless hours in many aspects of Delta from major fundraisers involving months of preparation, gathering sponsors, creating events and Speaker Bureau. She traveled all over San Antonio to schools, organizations, and the like to impart the Delta message. With the Delta Reading Program she spent one on one time with children in need of improving their reading skills while reading to dogs. Dee Dee enjoyed mentoring, assessing, and evaluating new teams and loved visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and youth facilities accompanied by Gabe. During these visits her special skills, coupled with her effervescent spirit and love, brought joy to many and a look on their faces of ones who were touched by the special magic Dee Dee and Gabe.

Dee Dee loved her years in Texas where she enjoyed sharing many happy occasions with family and friends and was lovingly known as Birda. She touched the lives of so many, including friends of her extended family and their children.

Dee Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Gracile and Faherty Pinkley, and her stepmother, Jessie Roeder Pinkley. She is survived by her husband, John; her daughters in San Antonio, Dr. Kelly Cowan (James Peterson) and Susanna Tim; stepson, Jason McGhee (Terra) of Irving, TX; stepdaughter, Dawnita Marino (Ron) of Little River, SC; her grandchildren, Collin and Caroline Peterson, Chloe and Clayton Timm, and Owen, Kaia, and Austen McGhee; her sister, Susanne Pinkley (Mike Phillips) of Atlanta, GA; brother, Dr. Leonard F. Pinkley Jr. (Jean) of Amory, MS; stepbrothers, Al Roeder (Jane) of The Woodlands, TX, Don Roeder (Janet) of Piggott, AR and Mike Roeder (Sharon) of Sevierville, TN; and stepsister Linda Rountree of Hot Springs, AR. She is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022

10:30AM

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH2102 N. LOOP 1604 E.SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78232

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Therapy Animals of San Antonio, Inc, which can be accessed at http://www.therapyanimalssa.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.therapyanimalssa.org .