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Submitted: 9/1/12 • Approved: 9/4/12 • Last Updated: 9/8/12 • R750117-G750116-S3
Hester 29 Nov 1924 - 9 Feb 2009
Wife of Carl D McKee
*Obituary
Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Records
11 Feb 2009
Hester Louise Davis McKee, 84, of Batesville died Monday, February 9 in a Batesville hospital. Louise was born on November 29, 1924, to Jeff and Artie Jane Davis of Huff, AR as the youngest of five daughters. She is survived by a son Dwight McKee of Heber Springs, a daughter Wanette Baker and husband Dr. J.R. Baker of Batesville, and three grandchildren, Dr. Erica Baker of Jonesboro, Andrea Baker of Conway, and Clark Baker and wife Rachel of Fayetteville. She is survived by one sister, Faye Wilf of Searcy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl McKee, her parents, and sisters, Wilma Bickers, Raye Seuberth, and Grace Tarver, and one brother Neil Davis, who died in infancy.
Her parents were sharecroppers who moved often in her formative years for the opportunity of making better cash crops. From early childhood, Louise worked in the cotton fields alongside her parents and sisters. Her parents moved finally to their own farm in nearby Hutchinson Valley which was part of a farm originally settled by her grandparents, Forn and Hester Linebarger. Louise spent her teenage years working on this farm, and attending Desha High School. Always with a competitive spirit, Louise often took joy in trying to pick more cotton in a day than her cousin King George, who kept her laughing with his jokes and humor during their long hot days in the fields. Louise also enjoyed playing guard for the Desha High School women's basketball team which led to adventures traveling by school bus over many crude unpaved roads in winter to other schools in north central and eastern Arkansas. Louise excelled in academics, and was Salutatorian of Desha High School's Class of '42. She was active in school activities and was a recognized beauty throughout her high school years.
Following high school, Louise attended Arkansas College. She taught elementary school at Mt. Pleasant, AR for one school term before convincing her parents to allow her to travel with two girlfriends to Long Beach, CA in 1943, to support the World War II effort by working at the California Shipyards. While living in Long Beach, Louise assisted in building troop morale by dancing with soldiers at USO Shows.
Prior to graduating from Desha High School, Louise met her future husband, Carl, who served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the U. S. Army. Shortly after the war was over, Carl and Louise returned to Batesville and were married within six weeks on December 29, 1945. They soon moved to Jacksonville, AR where they worked in managing the dismantlement of the armament plant.
Hoping to better their lives, Carl and Louise later moved to Detroit, MI to work in the rapidly expanding automobile industry. However, Louise soon became discouraged with Michigan's cold winters, and eventually convinced Carl they should return home to Arkansas before having their first baby, Wanette. Their second child, Dwight Davis, was born four years later,
Carl and Louise put down permanent roots on the outskirts of North Little Rock in 1949 by purchasing a home and four acres, down payment of which was secured by Louise cashing her war bonds. Carl and Louise diligently and lovingly raised their two children while both working in Little Rock. Louise was employed for 29 years by Internal Revenue Service. While working for IRS, Louise was promoted from an initial temporary position to that of supervisor of more than thirty employees in the tax assessment division. Louise retired from IRS in 1987.
Louise was always busy cooking wonderful homemade meals, canning, sewing costumes and dresses, and attending church activities.
Following the death of Carl, Louise moved to Batesville, AR in 1990 to be near Wanette and her family. Louise was a member of First Baptist Church, Batesville. She was very involved with her grandchildren's activities and served as a church volunteer and participated in several mission trips to Germany, Colorado, and Kansas. She volunteered for the Red Cross Bloodmobile and worked the local polls for many elections. She also enjoyed dancing with other seniors at Desha, Mountain View, and the local senior citizens center.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Chapel of Batesville with Dr. Gary Buckner officiating. Burial will be in Kyler Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Pallbearers will be Dwight McKee, Dr. J.R. Baker, Clark Baker, Alvin Hearyman, David Norman, Jake Wilf, Charles Keen, and Eddie Brock.
Memorials may be made to the Independence County Senior Citizens Center, 1590 East College Street, Batesville, AR 72501.
Photo Provided By Lee Son elanif@yahoo.com
Contributed on 9/1/12 by tootied
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Record #: 750117