Robert Earl McKee
Robert Earl McKee of Butler was born Feb. 15, 1924, in McKeesport. He was the youngest of three sons born to Beatrice Oates McKee and John David McKee.
He passed away Thursday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
While he was in his teens, Bob became ill and required treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. After that experience, he knew he wanted to make medicine his life's work. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and received his medical degree there as well.
He began his medical career at the Mayo Clinic in 1951 and was part of the team of doctors that performed the first open-heart surgery there. In 1958, he came to Butler Memorial Hospital and began a distinguished career as one of the county's busiest and most well-respected general surgeons. He spent the last decade of his career as a hospital administrator. He also served on the hospital's board of trustees.
When he was not working, he loved spending time with his wife, Wilma, his three children, Rob, Sharon and Deb, his son-in-law, Tom, and his two grandchildren, Robert and Jordan. He spent more than 30 summers at his home in Chautauqua, N.Y. He was active in the Hill United Presbyterian Church. He loved rooting on his beloved Pitt Panthers, Pirates and Steelers.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, his three children, his son-in-law, his two grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his two brothers, John and Bill.
Bob always said that his three loves were his family, his faith and his hospital. We take comfort in the knowledge that he was surrounded by all three throughout his life.
MCKEE — Friends of Robert Earl McKee, who died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, will be received from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St., Butler, with the Rev. Clark Sawyer of the Hill United Presbyterian officiating. Private burial will take place in North Side Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Hill U.P. Church, 501 Second St., Butler, PA 16001, the Butler Health System Foundation, One Hospital Way, Butler, PA 16001 or the Mayo Clinic Foundation, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
