Mary Margaret Mc Gee's Obituary
Mary Margaret Haygood McGee
8 February 1931 - 28 July 2025
Mary was born in Houston, TX the youngest of three children, to Carter and Lois Haygood. After graduating high school in Rosenberg, TX Mary attended college at Howard Payne University and earned a degree in Education. She taught elementary school in West Columbia, TX for one year and then moved to Odessa, TX to teach and be near her sister and brother-in-law. She met James McGee, a petroleum engineer with Mobil, while living in the same boarding house. They married in 1955 after a courtship of only 4 months. Jim’s military obligation took them to Ft. Belvoir, VA and Ft. Hood, TX. Before leaving the U.S. Army, he and Mary had two children, Kirk Marcus and Katherine Lois. The family then moved to Hobbs, NM where Jim continued his career with Mobil. There they had a third child, Kara Lea. They raised their children in Midland, TX and eventually moved to Dallas where they lived for 48 years. Mary took a break from teaching for 13 years to be at home with her children. She returned to work in 1967 and taught school in Midland and Richardson accumulating over 30 years in education.
Mary was a devoted wife and cherished her husband, James, of 69 years. She affectionately called him her “Old Buzzard" but more often called him her hero. The two traveled frequently; in addition to visits to their children there were trips to Germany, France, Ireland, Cancun, Hawaii, Israel, and London. After Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Jim moved them into a beautiful apartment at a senior living community in 2019. He always put Mary’s needs first, eventually making the difficult decision of placing her in memory care in 2023.
Mary was a feisty lady, fun loving with a great sense of humor. There was always laughter when she was around. Her friends called her the life of the party, but her greatest treasure was her family. She was an amazing mother and a wonderful role model. She was an awesome cook and made it look so easy. Mary adored being “Gramma” to her 5 grandchildren. She and Jim were quick to volunteer for grandparent duty whenever needed. She was a strong believer in Jesus and used her skills to teach Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Bible Study Fellowship. She was a wonderful example to all the women she came in contact with, especially her daughters. In her 2005 journal she wrote to her children: Remember that we are here to glorify Christ. I know you will live your life with that in mind.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents Carter and Lois Haygood, her sister Dorothy McSparran, her brother Dick Haygood, her devoted husband Jim and her precious boy, Kirk. She is survived by her daughters, Katherine (David) Savage and Kara (David) Kohl. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Rebecca Savage, Liz Savage (Robert Meyer), Maggie Savage (David Rios), John Marc Kohl (Lila), and Mary Kate Kohl in addition to her precious great-grandchildren, James and Eden Rios-Savage.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
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