NORTH MANCHESTER – Thomas N. McKee, 77, of North Manchester, died at 8:45 p.m. Dec. 5, 2012, in Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. He was born July 29, 1935, in Huntington, to Francis D. “Jake” and Mildred M. Michael McKee. On July 28, 1957, he married Avon McFarland, who died Jan. 25, 2012. He was a lifelong bricklayer and masonry contractor and retired from Pierceton Trucking Co. after 20 years. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, North Manchester. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1953-55. He graduated from Central High School in 1953. He was a member of American Legion Post 286, North Manchester, and Deming Lodge 88 F&AM. In the 1970s and 1980s he went to Alaska where he mined for gold and continued brick laying, building schools in the Alaska Tundra. Surviving are three daughters: Serita (and spouse Dean) Mithoefer, Indianapolis; Joy (and spouse Bradford) Wagner, Columbia City; and Ginger McKee, North Manchester; a brother, Richard (and spouse Carol) McKee, Silver Lake; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers and a grandson. Services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, with Pastor Ladona Webb officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. Calling is from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to Wabash County Cancer Society, P.O. Box 144, North Manchester, IN 46962. Condolences may be sent via mckeemortuary.com
