Harold McKee

Harold Wayne McKee, 87, of Robinson, IL, passed away on October 23, 2025. Born on July 10, 1938, in Robinson, Harold grew up right here in the community he would always consider home. He graduated from Robinson High School in 1956, and before long, he was off to serve his country in the U.S. Navy. What began as a young man's adventure became a 21-year career. Harold rose to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, earning the respect of those around him, including a Navy doctor he would later follow west to Albuquerque, NM, to work for. Later, he carried mail for eight years, and with it, the same dependable spirit of service, just in a different uniform.

But Harold's work life never really defined him. He was, at heart, a craftsman and a storyteller. For more than a decade, he was known around the region as The Turquoise Man, designing and selling his own handmade turquoise jewelry from a small trailer at local events. He had an eye for beauty, something also evident in his love of collecting. No matter what it was — coins, calendars, friendships — Harold gathered the things that told a story. He loved to hunt mushrooms in the woods and fish local ponds from his small boat. His life was full of these simple pleasures that, to him, were anything but small.

Those who knew him best remember him as the kind of person who made family life feel like an adventure. Easter mornings meant matching outfits and laughter, summer days were made for homemade slip-and-slides, and Christmas always arrived with a sense of magic and delight. When he lived in Florida, he poured his energy into turning a simple duplex into a home, laying foundations, digging septic lines, and even accidentally setting a few palmettos ablaze along the way. That was Harold's way: things might go sideways, but they'd always turn into a story worth retelling.

He made a point of keeping family connections strong. Every spring, he'd load up the car and head north to Illinois, where family waited and memories were ready to be made. The trips were full of tradition, from fried mushrooms with his dad, long visits with cousins, and a stop at Rock City for souvenirs before heading home. For Harold, those journeys weren't just about getting somewhere. They were about the stories gathered along the way.

His story couldn't be told without acknowledging the generosity with which he lived. He gave freely to causes that reflected his faith, his love for his country, and his desire to help others. He valued honesty, kept his word, and lived in a way that made people feel seen and respected. Even in later years, when life slowed down, Harold stayed surrounded by kindness, especially the steady friendship of neighbors like Jim & Sherri Bailey, who checked in, shared meals, and made sure he was well cared for, just as he had done for so many throughout his life.

To those who knew him, Harold was one of a kind. He lived with integrity, worked with his hands, and loved with quiet strength. He never took shortcuts, never stopped learning, and never let the people he loved down. He built his life the way he built everything else: with care, patience, and a love that will long outlast him.

That love lives on in his son, Tim McKee; his step-daughters, Debbie Deal and Becky Cotton; his granddaughter, Linzay (McKee) & Michael Fraser; his sister-in-law, Gayle McKee; his nieces and nephews, Jenise (Shew) & Lonnie Catt, Steve & Stacey Shew, Jennifer (Shew) & Jim Rowe, Brad McKee, Bart & Jennifer McKee; as well as several great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold L. McKee and Agatha Fern (Mills) McKee; by his brother, Gene McKee; and by his sister, Janet (McKee) & Gerald Shew.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5th, at the Robinson New Cemetery, with Celebrant Curt Goodwine officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Transportation Fund, with envelopes available at the cemetery. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is assisting the family at this time.