Joan Marie McGee

March 3, 1940 - June 24, 2021

Joan Doyel McGee, born Joan Marie Doyel, passed from this life to her Eternal Reward on June 24, 2021, at her son and daughter-in-love’s home, outside Rolla, MO, at the age of 81. Joan was born to Richard Leo Doyel and Alma Marie Doyle (Mayberry) on March 3, 1940 outside of Wrights, Illinois. Her father, Leo, was a farmer and in later years served for many years as the elected Road Commissioner of Wrights Township. Her mother performed all the duties of a homemaker, mother, and farm wife; Alma was known as an extraordinary cook. Joan was the youngest of the family, just over two years younger than her sister, Joyce. Joan was active in her church as a youngster, teaching Sunday School and singing with a mixed gospel quartet at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Wrights, IL. She taught herself to play piano and blessed many services and family sings with her sweet contralto voice. After graduating from Greenfield High School, she moved to Jacksonville where she found work at the Book Bindery. In 1959, Joan met a young widower with a 4-yearold daughter. Joan married the love of her life, Donald L McGee on August 16, 1959, at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Wrights. She and her husband went on to raise seven children in the small community of Muddy, about 7 miles outside of Waverly, IL. Their home was a favored gathering place where the door was always open, coffee always available for adults and Kool-Aid for the kids. It was a rare day at the McGee house when there wasn’t someone at the big dining table with the family, enjoying a meal or a cup of coffee. Joan and Don taught their children to love God, and to value and love Family. The family moved south, in 1980, settling for good near Donalsonville, GA where Don achieved his dream of owning and operating McGee’s Garage with his oldest son Ricky. After Don retired, they moved out to Seely Circle to live next door to their third daughter, Suzanne Chambers (Stacy) and her family. In 2007 Don and Joan, along with the Chambers and later Steve and his family moved to a property outside Colville, WA to fulfill a long-term dream of a family homestead. They were active in the Our Place Fellowship until deteriorating health made it impossible to continue to make the 45-minute drive, especially during the NE WA winters. Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Don McGee. Her parents, Alma and Leo Doyel, her sister, Joyce Doyel, daughter, Suzanne Chambers, and great granddaughter, Allydia Wilkes. In addition, she survived several brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles. and cousins. She is survived by her daughters Laura La Chance (Jody) of Bonifay, FL; Joyce Ann Smith (Jeff) of LaGrange, GA; Son-in-Love Stacy Chambers of Colville, WA; Richelle Herring (Shane) of Donalsonville, GA; Sons Ricky McGee (Gwen) of Jakin GA, Phillip McGee (Cindy) of Rolla, MO and Steve McGee (Connie) of Donalsonville, GA.; 22 Grandchildren and 24 Great-Grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Laura Randolph (Don) of Jacksonville, IL, brother-in-Law Delmar McGee (Nancy) of Illinois and uncounted cousins, nieces, nephews, and greats. She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith and music that will be treasured by all who knew her until we can sing together again before the Throne. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 2, 2021, at the Daws Family Funeral Home in Roodhouse with interment in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Wrights. A visitation will be held Friday 12:00 p.m. until time of services at the funeral home.