Onas Sumter McKee Jr., 90, passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Onas Sumter McKee Jr.
The family will receive friends at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel. Funeral Services will begin at 12:00 p.m., and Graveside Services will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens.
Onas Jr., also known as Bugs, Jr, Dad, and Grandad, was born in Phenix City on June 25, 1931, to Onas Sumter McKee Sr (Pop) and Jessie Lou Harden McKee (MeMaw) and lived there until age 6 when his family moved to Pinson.
He was the eldest of seven brothers, and he lived a full life as a child and man, hunting, fishing, camping, and walking Turkey Creek/Shadow Lake and the woods and hills nearby. He attended school in Pinson at the Rock School, then went to County High, and spent his last two years at Hewitt-Trussville High School as both a student and bus driver.
He attended First Baptist Church Pinson for 85 years, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, Director, Deacon, Nursery Worker, and various other positions. He participated in three branches of the service, beginning at 19 years old in the Air National Guard, then Marine Sargeant during the Korean War, and finally as a Master Chief in the Coast Guard. He loved the discipline of the military, and he loved serving his country. He also served the community by volunteering with the Center Point Fire Department.
Onas Jr worked for 44 years as a professional engineer, land surveyor, and Crew Chief. One of his favorite things to do while driving or riding in a car was to point out jobs his survey crew had surveyed and the fun memories from those places, which included incidents with bees, snakes, and ticks. In addition, he enjoyed farming, raising chickens and hogs, hunting, camping with his family in an old green Army tent, eating homemade ice cream, messing with the nurses and doctors at his appointments, and decreasing the crow and chipmunk population around his home.
Onas Jr is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 68 years, Alice Inez Justice McKee, son Timothy Wade McKee (Joy), daughters Lisa Marie Brewster (Jeff) and Paula Carol Booker (Gil), eight grandchildren in order of Casey Ingle (Brooks), Jennifer Massey (Adam), LeaAnne Howard (Gary), Blake McKee (Kathy), Jamie Melvin, Jen Royce (David), Natalie Baluyot (Adriel), Lauren Richardson (Christian); 24 great-grandchildren Kaylyn Lippert (Cody), Lexie Thomas, Reagan Thomas, Garrett Howard, Emma Howard, Madalyn Howard, Ben Lamb, Anna Howard, Paisley Howard, Colton Melvin, Chanley Howard, Jayce Melvin, Judson Ingle; Isabella Massey, Mallory McKee, Molly McKee; Oliver Beach, Luke Royce, Noelle Royce, Lily Beach, Abel Baluyot, Ellie Baluyot, Evelyn Royce, Alice Baluyot. Five brothers, Bobby/Buford (Jo), Neal/Rabbit (Jean), Charles/Kirby (Gwen), Wade/Hog (Pat), Joel/Hoofer (Vanessa); and many nephews, nieces, in-laws and their families.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Onas Sumter McKee Sr. (Pop) and Jessie Lou Harden McKee (MeMaw); daughter Kim McKee; brother Harold/Head McKee.
He loved to talk about driving school bus No. 54-Jefferson County High School; Maurice’s Hog Farm; where Wade’s (now David’s) house came from; where Ronnie and Imogene got married; where Pop caught the streetcar for work; where Neal’s property lines used to run; look and see “Old Buckle” (Vulcan); where the train terminal used to be; where he caught the train to Camp Pendleton, California for boot camp, then on to Korea; Bobby’s Firehouse No. 3; Nifty Paper Company; and Connors Steel.
He loved to study the Bible, listen along with J Vernon McGee, thought the world of Brother Paul Minton, and “He Touched Me” – Mr. Carroll. He loved Jesus and missed MeMaw and Pop and talked about being with Kim. Well – the chipmunks and crows can rest at peace now, and we won’t be hearing him holler at Mom, saying, “Guess who’s on the phone? It’s your favorite daughter- child- grandchild- great-grandchild.” See you soon, Jr, Dad, Granddad, Bugs.
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