Imajean Mcgee

Imajean Bilberry McGee went home to meet Jesus May 2, 2013, at 6:20 in the evening. Imajean was born Sep-tember 15, 1929, in Spur, Texas to Samuel Venson Bilberry and Eva Dressel Bronson Bilberry. She was the oldest of six children. During her childhood, she traveled from Texas to California and back as her father had to find ways to make ends meet during the Great Depression. After coming back to Texas as a teenager, she met the love of her life, Henry Eugene McGee. She married Henry on July 19, 1947, after only a twenty-three day courtship and they have remained married for over sixty-five years. They were blessed with three children, Iris Faye, Stephen Ray and Janis Lynn.
Imajean worked hard at every job she had, even driving a bulldozer alongside Henry. She worked at the family-owned Red Top Drive-In in Spur as a cook. After settling a bankruptcy due to an economic downfall, they moved the family to Waco and she enrolled in Beauty College. They eventually settled their roots in Smithville, Texas, where they started contract work for a local furniture maker. After years of furniture making they started their own arts and craft business with their oldest daughter and son-in-law, called Crafts from the Kitchen Table. This venture had her again traveling throughout the south, setting up at fairs and malls selling their wares. They did this for almost twenty five years until Henry became ill and had to retire. In addition to the craft business, she also had her beauty shop set up at her home, where she styled hair for many women in town.
She loved gathering her huge family any chance she got, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. There was al-ways plenty of food and lots of fellowship. She also loved playing the domino game "Train" every Tuesday at the library. She was an active member of First Baptist Church as a member of the choir, Sunday School and the Fel-lowship committee. She served for many years as the VBS director.
Imajean was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Sammy Joe, Noel Lyndall, and Kenneth Dale; son-in-law, James Franke; and nephew, Mark Bilberry.
Imajean is survived by her husband Henry; brothers Harold Royce Bilberry (Nelle) of Georgetown and Frankie Don Bilberry (Janice) of Elgin; daughters Iris Faye Franke of Smithville and Janis Lynn Lehmann (Macyln) of Winchester; and son Stephen Ray McGee (Debbie) of Nacogdoches; She leaves her legacy to nine grandchildren, Gina Franke, 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 (Adriania), Tyler Lehmann, Kylee Leh-mann, Haley Gonzales, Cory 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 neph-ew, Darrell Bilberry.
Pallbearers are her precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers include the Deacons of First Baptist Church.
Visitation was held Sunday May 5, 2013 from 4-8 pm at All Faith of the Pines Funeral Home in Smithville. Funeral services were held Monday May 6, 2013 at 10am at First Baptist Church in Smithville. Interment will be at Win-chester City Cemetery, Winchester, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Smithville, Texas or a charity of your choice.