Susan McKee

Clarendon resident Susan McKee passed away peacefully in her home on July 16, 2021.

She lived three weeks after a breast cancer diagnosis, but always a pragmatist about death, she chose to live that time surrounded by family and friends.

“You can all do whatever kind of Celebration of Life you want to after I’m gone,” she told her family shortly after coming home from the hospital, “But I want to celebrate while I’m alive! I want to participate!” Family from coast to coast traveled to spend time with her, laugh, cook, and reminisce. It was a wonderful occasion for her. A wonderful occasion for us all.

Susan began working as a 911 dispatcher for the Donley County Sheriff’s Office in 1999 and retired in 2016. As the emergency dispatcher, she was the voice heard by the deputies, EMS, and firemen relaying information to them as they raced through the nights.

She liked to drop off anonymous boxes of candy and treats to her first responder friends, but it was an open secret. Everyone knew when a box arrived who it was from.

Susan will be remembered for her genuine kindness and a biting wit sense of humor. Born and raised in California, she was known by some as simply The Hippie.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Miss Ellie McKee, both of Clarendon; and her sisters, Flindy and Rebecca.

Susan is survived by her brother, Jeff McKee of Clarendon; sister, Diane (Frank) of Arizona; niece, Shirley (Paul) Deese of Dothan, AL; niece, Barbara Wilhite of Las Vegas, NV; Jeff (Lisa) Hedrick of Muscle Shoals, AL; niece, Amy (Danny) Halcomb and their daughters, Delany and Ruby, of Newcastle, CA; nephew, Tor (April) and their son, Owen, of Hanford, CA; grandniece, Wendi (Ana) Hurst-Juerrero and their daughter, Ellie, of Hanford, CA; grandniece, Mallory (Tim) and their children, Timothy and Elinor, of Summerville, SC; and Stoney (Jillian) and their son, Griffin, of Jacksonville, FL.

Susan’s family would like to express a heartfelt shout-out to some incredibly special people. Sis Bond of Kindred Hospice. Sis, you were our hero and our teacher. Thank you for everything. Anna, Heather, and the entire EMS team, thank you so much for the unwavering help you gave Susan. Butch, Cheryl, and Deana of the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, you were family. Thank you, all of her friends and acquaintances around town for your condolences as we passed on the street, it was comforting. Lastly, Kelly and Sonny. I guess we will never know.

An informal Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday morning, July 31 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Come and go as you please, help yourself to some coffee, juice, and assorted breads and cakes. Listen to others and tell your own ‘Susan Story’. It will be held at her home at 721 W. 7th Street (SE corner of 7th and S. Allen) in Clarendon. Please feel free to stop in.