Katherine McGee Lee

Mrs. Katherine McGee Lee transitioned unexpectedly in Chicago on November 24, 2018, at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Thomas Lee. Katherine was born on April 6, 1926, in Memphis, Tennessee and was loved and raised by her father, Buster Mabry, along with her sister Wardeen Webb.  Her desire, as a child, to help her sickly dog led her to aspire to be a nurse and she ultimately had a successful nursing career – she worked many years for Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and retired from there at age 65. Katherine always wanted to attend college and eventually graduated from DePaul University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at the age of 54.  It was during these years that she married Mr. Lee, the man of her dreams, and had a long and blissful marriage. Katherine enjoyed life and used her time well and wisely.  Upon moving from Memphis to Chicago, she devoted her time to her raising her children, serving in the community, and building a legacy of excellence in her budding nursing career (from LPN to RN) and shaping the future of her family’s success.  Katherine was a loyal friend and maintained friendships that endured over many years.  Among those friends were Miss Elease Davis and Miss Versia Grey, both now deceased – who were Katherine’s friends for over 75 years. She met Mr. and Mrs. Lou, and Liz Tiller in Chicago and that friendship has lasted over the last 55 years. Katherine is survived by her five adult children; Beverly, Ronald, Darryl, Denise and Adriane, twenty grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren.  Her children remember her as a dedicated, driven, and fiercely protective mother who encouraged them to pursue lofty goals, to do the right thing no matter what, and to not let others define who you are and what you can do. All who met Katherine soon realized that she believed in living life at its fullest and would never turn away a good party, a pretty short dress or a pair of high heels. She had an insatiable zest for life and loved sharing stories of her many travels, adventures, and experiences. She knew how to fill up a room with her presence and laughter. A visitation and service are scheduled for Saturday, December 1, 2018, at Heritage Funeral Home with a celebration of life to follow at the Walker Home, 5804 West Race, Chicago, IL 60644.

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