John Mcgee

Services are Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at lO a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Artesia, N.M. PMasonic Rites and Military Honors will be conducted at Woodbine Cemetery. PJohn McGee passed away Wednesday, November 28th at Artesia General Hospital. He was 86 years old. PPallbearers will be John Thurman, Joel Thurman, Brent Gravel, Kyle Thurman, Zachariah Thurman, Skylar Gravel, Frank Devine, and Arnold Taylor. PHonorary pallbearers are Milt Houston, Harry Barney, Don Thurman, Mike Thurman, Joe Bob Thurman, all brother Masons, and co-workers from CVE. PVisitation will be at Terpening and Son Mortuary at 2pm Sunday, December 2nd. PMr. McGee was born in Laura, Oklahoma to Edgar and Ina McGee. He graduated from Talahina High School in 1939. He graduated from Eastern Oklahoma Jr. College in 1941. John enlisted in the Army Air Forces in August, 1942 and graduated as a flight officer April 15, 1945. He retired as a Major in the Air Force Reserves in 1969. PJohn was a member of First United Methodist Church in Artesia for 43 years. PHe was a member of Artesia Masonic Lodge 28 AF amp; AM for 46 years and was a past master and past secretary of the Artesia Lodge. He was a member and past master of Felix Lodge 29 AF amp; AM in Hagerman, NM. John was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Las Cruces, a plural member of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and an officer in the Red Cross of Constantine. He was a member of Ballut ABYAD Shriners of Albuquerque, NM, and a member and past patron of Artesia Chapter 18 Order of Eastern Star. John was also the recipient of the Kit Carson Award from the Grand Lodge of NM AF amp; AM. He was also Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of NM AF amp; AM 2007. He was a DeMolay Dad for Artesia Chapter of DeMolay. PJohn married Lola V. King in Muskogee, Oklahoma on July 6th 1943. After his active military service he worked for a power line contractor, building lines in Oklahoma and Texas from 1945 to 1951. This job brought him to Artesia, where he decided to stay. He accepted a job with Central Valley Electric, where he worked until he retired as line crew foreman in 1984. PHe is survived by his daughter Vicki and husband Junior Thurman, grandchildren John Thurman and wife Stayce, Joel Thurman and wife Lisa, Jill Thurman, Jana and husband Terry Mann, Juli Thurman, Robert Spencer, Jr. and wife Lynn, Dana Carlin, Maria and husband Jonathan Brown, Barry Spencer and wife Kathy, Craig Gravel and wife Cheryl and Brent Gravel. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Kirra Thurman, Kyle Thurman, Trina Mann, Faithe Mann, James Mann, Tyler Mann, Zachariah Thurman, Michael Spencer and wife Lisa, Christopher Spencer and wife Renee, Jamie Carlin, Brian Carlin, Kelsey Brown, Jeremy Spencer and wife Rachael, Allison and husband Josh Allen, Jacob Spencer, great-great grandchildren Nathaniel Spencer, Noah Spencer, Hannah Spencer, Lauren Spencer, Matthew Spencer, Emily Spencer, Natalie Spencer, Benjamin Spencer. Brother-in-law Woodrow King and wife Juanita, and daughter-in-law Nancy Gravel and cousins Jack Powell, and wife Tsinina and Lilly Jean Doyle. John married Norma Jean Boling on October 24th, 1998. He is also survived by step-children Pati Robinson, Jimmy Boling and wife Renee, Billy Boling, Dedi and husband Hondo Hannigan and Kinslee Baack, Shelly Tucker and J. T. Tucker. PHe was proceeded in death by his parents and grandparents John and Lilly McGee, a sister, wives Lola and Norma, daughter Dolores and husband Robert Spencer, son Ronnie Gravel and wife Ernie, brothers-in-law Edwin King and wife Autis, and Marion King. PHe had many faithful friends, but special thanks go to Frank Devine, Arnold Taylor, Milt Houston, Harry Barney for helping him through these final years. He is loved and will be missed by many.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church, 500 W. Grand, Artesia, NM or Artesia Lodge 28 AF amp; AM, 1009 W. Hermosa Drive, Artesia, NM.