Gerald Dean McKee age 72, of Richland Springs, Texas, passed away peacefully from this life to his eternal home on January 18, 2022. Gerald was born on August 16, 1949, in San Saba, Texas, to Nolan Bonner and Minnie Bea (Yarbrough) McKee. He was the middle child, having an older brother and a younger sister.
As a youngster, Gerald always loved the farming life and all the animals. He graduated from San Saba High School in 1967. While in high school, he was a member of Mr. R. J. Powell’s livestock and grass judging teams. After graduation, he continued his education at Tarleton State College. He would come home on the weekends and work at the San Saba County Peanut Growers Association in Richland Springs where he met the love of his life, Kay Powell; she would stop by after school and pick up salt blocks and feed for her dad. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in December of 1971. Gerald and Kay were happily married March 4, 1972.
Ag teaching jobs were hard to come by in Texas. So Gerald laid aside the teaching field, and they started the farming life in the spring of 1972. There were many ups and downs with farming and ranching, dry weather and predators. They sold out and went to New Mexico to work on a ranch for three years. They returned to Richland Springs in 1984 to start again. He served on the Richland Springs I.S.D. School board and was a member of the San Saba County Young Farmers and served on many boards throughout the community.
Gerald rebuilt their house and then decided to use his teaching certificate. He taught at the San Saba State School for five years, and then moved on to the Ag teaching job at Richland Springs where he loved teaching the students the responsibility of caring for and showing their animals. All the time he was raising show goats and show lambs.
He taught many life lessons to the students. With the help of many volunteers and the Ag kids, he built a feeding facility and many things around the school. He loved building friendships with his fellow colleagues.
He retired in 2017 from teaching and decided to work at Tractor Supply Co. in San Saba where he got to visit with many of his acquaintances from years past. Gerald was a great gardener, and he loved to grow vegetables. He shared lots of the produce with neighbors and friends all the while he and Kay canned much of the produce for the winter months.
Gerald was a member of the First Baptist Church Richland Springs where he has served as a deacon, Sunday School Superintendant and Teacher. He loved to tell you about his faith in his Lord.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nolan and Minnie Bea McKee; an infant sister, Bonnie; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wayne and Gladys Powell; brother, Norman McKee; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Powell and David Evans; and one nephew, Shane McKee.
Gerald is survived by his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Kay(Powell) McKee; daughters: Deana Sealy and husband Jacody, and Amanda Ransbarger and husband Weldon; grandchildren: Jakayly Wilcox and husband Blue, Jaden, Jaston, Jacey and Jolton Sealy, Troy, Brittany and Madalyn Ransbarger; sister, Linda Evans; sister-in law, Jean McKee; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a Special brother-in-law, Billy Felfe and wife Kathy; a Special great-niece Heather Lewis and husband Aaron; great-great-nephews: Zayden, Nolan and Greyson (Gus) Lewis; and a foster sister-in-law, Becky Crisp and husband Curtis.
The family would like to thank Interim Hospice of West Texas for their compassionate care during his last days at home.
A Visitation was held on Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Blaylock Funeral Chapel in San Saba, Texas. A Funeral Service was held on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. at Richland Springs First Baptist Church in Richland Springs, Texas, with Mack Elkin and Barry Fikes officiating. Interment followed at Richland Springs Cemetery in Richland Springs, Texas. Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba, Texas, in charge of arrangements.
In Lieu of flowers memorials can be made to:
Richland Springs Cemetery Assoc. P.O. Box 294 Richland Springs, Texas 76871
Gerald McKee Scholarship fund 1255 CR 266 Richland Springs, Texas 76871
Never Surrender Cancer Foundation San Saba P.O. Box 995 San Saba, Texas 76877