Harriet Melissa (Hocker) McKee

Harriet Melissa McKee passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the Woodland Good Samaritan Society in Brainerd, MN, surrounded by her loving family.

A memorial service will be held at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family are invited to gather for a half an hour prior to the service. Interment will be held at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.

Harriet was born in McDonough County, Illinois to Arland Reon and Hilda Mae (Benner) Hocker.

She is survived by four children; Cheryl (Thomas) Miller, of Pine River, MN, Michael (Theresa), of Bemidji, MN, Patricia (Douglas) Meisner, of Minneapolis, MN; and Rebecca (Michael) Odle, of Boise, Idaho; plus ten grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene McKee; her parents; and one brother, Arland Jr., of Madison, WI.

Harriet graduated from Colchester, Illinois High School, and Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois. She accepted a position with McDonough County Coop in Macomb, Illinois, where she worked until her marriage.

In December of 1949, Harriet married Eugene McKee, and they shared 70 years together. 

Following Gene’s retirement in 1985, they moved to Green Valley, Arizona, where they lived for 25 years, summering at Fritz’s Resort in Nisswa, MN. They returned to live in Minnesota in 2010.

Harriet was devoted to her family and made everyone feel valued and loved. She was a skilled homemaker, decorator, seamstress, and played the piano by ear. She loved traveling, highlights being six weeks in New Zealand and Australia with Gene, and a week in New York City with her daughters. Harriet volunteered for many church, school, and community events throughout her life. She enjoyed membership in the Red Hat Society and volunteered as a clown for a charity event. Harriet will be remembered by all who knew her for her kindness, friendliness, and delightful sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts donated to a charity of your choice.

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