Obituary: Donald Frank McKee

Donald Frank McKee
Dec. 15, 1941~Nov. 5, 2008
Former Alaskan Donald Frank McKee, 66, died Nov. 5, 2008, at Health South Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. Don had been fighting a form of emphysema for a number of years. He had just moved from Myrtle Point, Ore., to Pahrump, Nev., when he came down with pneumonia. Though he recovered from the pneumonia, he never regained the strength to return home.
Don was born Dec. 15, 1941, in Rifle, Colo., to Lonnie Ira McKee and Jennie Davis McKee. He attended school in Rifle and Meeker, Colo., where he was graduated in 1959. He joined the United States Marine Corps the fall of 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1964. Don’s law enforcement career started in Glenwood Springs, Colo., where he was soon promoted to sergeant and continued on to be police chief in Meeker, Colo. He moved his family to Seward, Alaska, in 1972 where he was lieutenant and later chief in Skagway, Alaska, and Haines, Alaska. After law enforcement, he worked for the State of Alaska Highway Maintenance, retiring in 1996.
Don’s hobbies through the years were hunting, fishing, gunsmithing, leather working and motorcycle riding. Don was considered by many to be the premier muzzleloading rifle and pistol smith of his time. Motorcycle riding was by far his greatest passion. Even in his last year with us he would strap an oxygen bottle onto his bike and ride the open roads.
Don was preceded in death by his father, mother and younger brother Ray. He is survived by his wife Doris of Pahrump, Nev., his son Preston (Candace) McKee of Wasilla, Alaska, daughter Susan (Jeff) Clements of Weasel, Alaska, first wife Dorothy McKee of Meeker, Colo., brother Shelley (Judi) McKee of Anchorage, Alaska, brother Francis McKee of Meeker, Colo., his grandchildren Jessica McKee, Logan and Katrina Clements all of Wasilla, Alaska.