James Arthur McKee

“And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, 'I need a caretaker.'“So God made a farmer.”— Paul HarveyJames Arthur McKee was a farmer and he left his beloved family farm for the last time Tuesday after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.He was born on the family farm on May 16, 1938, to Thomas C. and Ethel (Wagner) McKee.He worked on the farm through his school years, graduating from Worthington High School with the Class of 1956.On Aug. 18, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Luana Moorhead, and brought her back to the farm, where they raised six children together. They were married for 62 wonderful years.He worked on the family dairy farm, now called Century Hill Farm, seven days a week, while also working other jobs to take care of his large family. Jim drove a coal truck for a while, then drove a Texaco Gas truck for Butler Petroleum. He spent 10 years working at Logan Clay Products in Lairds Crossing and also was a school bus driver for Shriver Bus Co. at different times in his life.Jim was a hard worker. He also was a soft-spoken, caring, kind man, with a sense of humor and was loved deeply by his family and respected by all who knew him.Jim was a lifelong member of Franklin Union Baptist Church in Worthington, where he also served as deacon. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and recently resigned from South Bend Insurance board of directors due to his illness.He enjoyed John Wayne movies, crossword puzzles, and being “Poppy” to his many grandchildren and their children. His granddaughters delighted in dressing him in silly hats and animal faces, and posting his picture on Instagram. He may have enjoyed it just as much as they did.Jim is survived by the one and only love of his life, Luana; and four of his six children, Jamie (Randy) Freeman, Jackie (Ken) Stitt, Amy (Russ) Walker of Worthington and Debbie (Pat) Sallustio of Ohio.His daughter-in-law, Carla McKee of Worthington, and his son-in-law, Jeffrey Bechtel of Florida, also mourn his loss.He has three living siblings, Violet (Perry) Ray of Butler, Marilyn (Robert) Elder of Enon Valley and Jack (Judy) McKee of Montrose.Survivors also include his sisters-in-law, Darla (William) Mechling of Indiana and Cathy (Mike) Seniow of Avonmore; his brother-in-law, Kenneth (Darlene) Moorhead of Kittanning; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren will miss their “Poppy” forever. Numerous nieces and nephews will also cherish his memory.Jim was preceded in death by his parents; two of his children, Steven James McKee, who passed away in 2014, and Marsha Diane Bechtel, who passed away in 2017; his brothers, R. Dean McKee and T. Craig McKee; and his sister-in-law, Shirley McKee.

MCKEE — Family and friends of James Arthur McKee, who died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at F. Duane Snyder Funeral Home, 119 Bear St., Worthington.Additional visitation will take place beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Franklin Union Baptist Church, Worthington, where the funeral will be held at 11 a.m. with Pastor Scott Jones officiating.Interment will be in the church cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Franklin Union Baptist Church, 108 Century Hill Lane, Worthington, PA 16262.For more information or to express condolences to the family, please visit www.snydercrissman.com.