CAROLYN MCKEE

Funeral services for Carolyn McKee, 96, of Indianola, IA, who passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2019 at The Village, will be held 11 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Scotch Ridge United Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, with burial following in the Scotch Ridge Cemetery.

Carolyn was born and raised in Wheaton, IL, a suburb of Chicago. Her family owned a vacation cottage in the Bass Lake resort area in Michigan. Many of her childhood summers were spent there swimming and sailing on the lake. The cottage was also within walking distance, of the much bigger, Lake Michigan.

Carolyn graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Home Economics and that is where she met and married her husband of over 40 years, John McKee. Shortly after their marriage, they relocated from Ames, IA to Fort Sill, OK where John attended an Army Officer Candidate School. Upon his commissioning as 2 ^nd Lieutenant, he deployed to the Philippines Islands and finished out WW II and Carolyn returned home to Wheaton with their newborn first son, John "Mike". After the war ended and the family was reunited, they eventually moved to the family farm near Scotch Ridge in Iowa. Carolyn's in-laws moved to town and John and she took over the farm operations.

Carolyn, the city girl, adapted quickly to the life of a farm wife of her generation. She cooked three meals a day, often for extra farm help, she jumped into church and farm activities, she chased cows when they got out, she helped drive tractors when called for in making hay, and she raised four sons, each with their own set of challenges.

While Carolyn dutifully took care of farm chores and family, she also found time for art and creative activities. Whether making craft ornaments or quilted banners for church, or completing school art projects for her sons, she was talented at making things look good. In later years, she focused on fine tuning her watercolor painting skills. Up until her final months, she was an avid reader, she loved visitors and life, and she enjoyed the group social atmosphere of The Village, where she resided.

Carolyn actively participated in and took leadership roles in many organizations including, Farm Bureau, Scotch Ridge Church, Lioness Club, PEO, Calvin Clan, McNichol Group, ISU Alumni Organization, Sewing Club, and Clio Club.

She is survived by her sons, Mark (Lynne) McKee and Steven McKee; grandchildren, Carmen (Chris) Bushong, Krista (Justin) Hoal, Patrick McKee, Martha (Dan) Paterson and Kelly (Rose) Rice; 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, John; parents, Sidney and Elizabeth March; and sons, Mike and David McKee.

Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, September 5 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, where family will be present to greet friends. Memorials may be given in her name to the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church.