Henry Mcgee

Henry Eugene McGee was born March 3, 1923 to Parrish and Maud (Kelley) McGee in Texla, Texas. He died March 20, 2016 in Smithville, Texas.
Henry, or Gene, or Hank, or Mac, however you knew him, led a long and colorful life that left its mark on a myriad of people, many who were just as colorful and interesting. Although he was an only child, he grew up near five cousins that were always ready to get him into mischief. The boys liked to skip Sunday services and go swimming in the creek, climbing out on the bank just in time to get in line for the church's dinner on the grounds. They just grinned when the preacher would comment on how clean they looked.
Quitting school after the eighth grade, Henry helped his mother in the fields by trucking vegetables to market, working on a dairy farm, and helping his dad in the oilfields around Kilgore. In later years he loved to show his children and grandchildren the stretch of Highway 96 from Jasper to Beaumont where, as a young boy, he cleared trees by hand for ten cents a pole. When he reached 'legal hiring age' he found work in the shipyards near Orange, Texas until he was drafted into the US Army in 1943. He was assigned to the maintenance department of the 785th Tank Battalion, Company C, stationed in the Philippines. When peace was declared, Henry guarded Japanese prisoners of war housed on the islands, until he was honorably discharged in 1946.
Back in the states, Henry found work as a commercial fisherman in Kirbyville, then moved to Monahans, where he was hired as a mechanic for a heavy equipment company. A road paving job brought him to the little west Texas town of Spur. Here he met the redheaded waitress at Bell's CafAC., named Imajean Bilberry, whom he courted for twenty three days, married (against her parent's wishes) on July 19, 1947, and began a journey together that lasted almost sixty six years until Imajean's death in 2013.
During their early marriage, employment included setting telephone poles for the REA, rough-necking in the East Texas oil fields, pulling cotton for his in-laws, breaking land on the Cap Rock in West Texas, and helping build the highway bypass around Deming, New Mexico.
In 1958, back in Spur, Texas he bought his first bulldozer, went into business for himself, went broke, refused bankruptcy, and ended up in Waco working on the Waco dam for R.G. LeTourneau.
The year, 1964, found Henry and his family settling in Smithville, Texas, operating a dozer for local resident, Willie Goebel. He was well known for his tank building ability. Building Lake Thunderbird and Indian Lake are among his accomplishments.
After pushing dirt for 25 years, Henry switched careers--building custom furniture parts for various manufacturers. His growing knowledge of woodworking progressed into a family craft business, that thrived for 25 years, leaving original works in homes across eight states. He finally accepted full retirement in 1995.
Henry's life was filled with hard work and lean times, but he was always ready to help anyone or lend his talents where he saw a need. Henry and Jean opened their home several times to foster children from the Texas Baptist Children's Home in Round Rock. However, his favorite 'volunteer' act was leading youth mission trips with boys from Rosanky Baptist Church and First Baptist n Smithville. The boys loved him as much as he loved them, even forgiving them when on one trip, the boys tied him to the camp bedpost and gave him a new nicknamea�""The Killer".
Henry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Imajean; daughter, Janis Lynn Lehmann; son-in-law, James Franke; daughter-in-law Debbie McGee; and nephew, Mark Bilberry. Henry is survived by daughter Iris Faye Franke of Smithville; son Stephen Ray McGee of Nacogdoches; son-in-law Maclyn Lehmann of Winchester; brothers-in-law Harold Royce Bilberry (Nelle) of Georgetown and Frankie Don Bilberry (Janice) of Elgin. He leaves his legacy to nine grandchildren, Gina Sanders (Robert), Coleen Smiley (Benny), Joe Lehmann (Roslyn), Michael McGee, Megan Ninemire (Zach), Stacey Lehmann, Jamie Franke, Melanie Hitchcock (Mike), and Chad Lehmann (Tish); twelve great-grandchildren Richard Smiley, Caleb Ninemire, Madison McGee, Mallory Ninemire, Ryan Ninemire, Dusty Veitch (Adriana), Tyler Lehmann, Kylee Lehmann, Haley Gonzales, Corey Lehmann, Jace Lehmann, and Harper Spencer; two great-great grandchildren, Bianca Veitch and Briella Veitch; three nieces, Tricia Jones (Jackie), Karen Bilberry and Laura Eiben (Jeff); and one nephew, Darrell Bilberry.
Pallbearers are his precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers include Harold Bilberry, Frankie Don Bilberry, William Breeden, Bill Hector, Lee Machen, and Brad Williams.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church, Smithville, TX or any charity of your choice.