Henry "James" McKee

Henry "James" McKee, 78, of Conley Rd, Morganton, NC went home to be with his heavenly father on Monday, July 12, 2010 at the Burke Palliative Care Center. Born in Columbus Co., NC on January 30, 1932, he was the son of the late William James McKee and Lucy Hobbs McKee. James was a member of First Assembly of God. A U.S. Army veteran, he is a retired employee of Broughton Hospital, where he worked for thirty years. He was also an employee of Dixie Container. James was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother.He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Edith Smith McKee of the home; a son, Jeff McKee and wife, Tina, of Morganton; a daughter, Pam Hudson of Morganton; grandchildren, Nichole Kirschner and husband, Adam, Josh Hudson, Tiffany McKee, Jacob Hudson, and Jalyn Hudson; a great-grandson, Dorian Kirschner and two other great-grandchildren expected this fall; brothers, William Lawrence McKee and wife, Faye, of Raleigh, NC, Vinson McKee and wife, Sandra, of Morganton, Vernon McKee and wife, Ruth, of Morganton, and Harold L. McKee of Morganton; sisters, Emily Watkins of Oxford, NC and Linda Pritchard of Morganton; and a number of nephews and nieces.In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathleen Russ and Opal McKee.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2010 at First Assembly of God with Reverends Wayne Knight and Daniel Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God, 1955 US 70 East, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.