Thomas Eugene ‘Gene’ McKee | 87 | Nebo

Thomas Eugene “Gene” McKee, 87, of rural Nebo, IL left this life to be with the Lord on June 12, 2025. Gene passed comfortably in his home, as he requested.
Gene was born Aug. 5, 1937 in the Pleasant Hill bottoms, a son of William B. and Mary Ilene Lewis McKee. Gene had three sons that he loved and was very proud of, Tony Crowder, William Scott McKee and Thomas Lynn McKee.
Gene graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1956. Gene often talked about what it was like to go from a small country school to the high school in Pittsfield, where he served a year as class president.
Gene was an Air Force veteran, serving our country from 1956 – 1960. Gene worked in communication in Japan as a cryptographer. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Gene returned to Pike County and soon started his family. Gene enjoyed all kinds of hunting and teaching his boys how to hunt and farm and he especially loved spending time with his family.
Gene was a hard worker. In the early years he farmed and raised pigs and cattle. Gene also worked for 36 years at Panhandle Eastern Gas Pipeline Company. He also opened his own insurance company and then obtained his real estate license and ran McKee Insurance and Real Estate.
Gene was well known, respected and well liked. He was a faithful member of the Nebo Church of Christ for many years and had been a long standing and active member of the Pleasant Hill Lions Club until it disbanded. He served on the Pittsfield School Board and later on the Pleasant Hill School Board where he served as President. He was also a Calhoun County Farm Bureau member for many years.
Survivors include three sons, Tony Clark (MaryAnn) Crowder of Rockport, William Scott (Denise) McKee of Hamburg and Thomas Lynn McKee of Pleasant Hill, five grandchildren, Jake Crowder of Rockport, Kaylyn (Easton) McKee of St. Charles, MO, Isaac McKee of Bowling Green, MO, Cole Wright of Pleasant Hill and Ashley (Justin) Anderson of Pittsfield, one great grandson, Wes Clark Crowder of Rockport, a brother, Darrell McKee of Martinsburg, a sister, Estelene (Ron) Hayden of rural Pittsfield and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Jessie Dolbeare, four brothers, Bob McKee, J.R. McKee, Bill McKee and Lowell McKee, three infant sisters, one infant brother and a daughter- in-law, April Lynn DeCamp McKee.
Funeral services were held Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill conducted by Pastor Michael Thomas. Burial, with military honors, followed at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. Visitation will be held Sunday from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Crescent Heights Cemetery.
Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill is handling the arrangements.