Iva Mckee

Iva B. McKee Iva McKee, of Delmar Gardens Nursing Home in Lenexa, formerly of Neodesha, and known locally as the Tree Lady, died Tuesday, October 5, 2004. She was 94. The family will meet friends at the Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Funeral Home Chapel Thursday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon. A graveside service will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery at Caney at 2 p.m. The casket has been closed. The daughter of Charles Henry and Fannie Belle Mayes Hawthorne, she was born Jan. 31, 1910 at Ponder, MO. She was united in marriage to Howard M. McKee Sr. on July 14, 1929 at Cherryvale. After their marriage, the McKees lived in Caney until 1943 when they moved to Neodesha. During World War II, Mrs. McKee worked for the War Department, Army Air Force and Independence Army Air Field at Independence. In later years, she and her husband owned a dry cleaning establishment in Neodesha. She was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Neodesha. She served as president of the Neodesha Garden Club in 1949, president of the Kansas Association of Garden Clubs in 1963-64 and served as National Youth Chairman for the National Garden Club. In 1984, the Arbor Day Foundation presented her with the prestigious Lawrence Enersen Award. Preceding her in death were her husband and five siblings. Survivors include a son, Howard M. McKee Jr. of Kansas City, MO; a daughter, Alice Rosemary Hufford of Wichita; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wilson County Hospital Foundation and may be left at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be made at www.penwellgabel.com.