Roy Milton Mcgee

Roy Milton McGee, age 92, passed away Sunday, July 17th in Arlington, TX. He was born in Dallas, TX and raised in Ft. Worth, TX. After graduating from High School, he started his 38-year career at the telephone company, climbing telephone poles in West Texas. He worked many years in the Ft. Worth area, spending the last 14 years as the telephone man at the Bell Helicopter plant in Hurst, TX. It was in West Texas that he met and married his first wife Billie. They were together many years and raised three children, Donna, Marilyn and Roy Jr.

Roy enjoyed fishing, bowling, coaching his son’s baseball team, tennis, jogging and playing card games, 42 and poker with friends. He was a devoted gym rat, traveler, and avid downhill skier.

He said “YES” when offered early retirement, launching his next career with his second wife, Karen. Together, they volunteered with the US National Forest Service in three wilderness areas: The Boundary area of Minnesota & Canada, Admiralty Island Alaska and Mountain Wilderness of River of No Return in Idaho. All these remote, roadless, hard to get to and beautifully unspoiled forests would be their home away from home for 17 seasons.

The duties varied from clearing and maintaining trails to helping lost visitors and evacuating hikers during forest fires. Even the unusual duty of how to hang food packs away from the bears reach was useful knowledge to those who visited. The many friends he met along the way and the ability to be in the presence of the pristine beautiful areas were priceless. It allowed him the opportunity to observe animals in a natural setting that was worthy of filming for National Geographic or the Discovery channel.

There are over 150 forests in the US staffed by many volunteers. In 2004, Roy was selected, out of many, as one of the 13 volunteers nationwide to receive The National Volunteer award.
In the 22 years he lived in Mineola, TX, Roy continued to volunteer in his community - serving: Mineola Main Street Committee, Kiwanis, Methodist Men, Bread of Life food pantry, Caring & Sharing and KOET Prison Ministry. He was a member of the Methodist Church, Emmaus community and was a Mason.

Roy’s ashes will be buried beside a beautiful Idaho lake that he fished for 14 summers.

He loved the Lord and his blended family:
Karen, Donna, Terry, Chris, Nic, Marilyn (Susie), Liz, Traci, Brian, Grayson, Carson, Roy Jr., Pam, Fallon, Justin, Emmett, Hayes, Les, Cary, Taygan, Cal, Caylor, Craig, Emma, Abby, Noah, Kamla, Robin, Miguel, Alex, Alexa, Sydney, Krisla, Chad, Maclane, Campbell, Cooper, Maurine (98 years young), Kay, Joe, Richard, Cynthia and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church Ministry Center, 612 North Newsom St, Mineola, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, the Mason’s Widow Fund (1501 W. Division, Arlington, TX 76012) or your personal charity of choice.