Patsy Ruth Gresham McKee

Patsy McKee, 98, of Waco, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 15, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Born on November 1, 1927, on a farm in Bruceville, Texas, Patsy Ruth Gresham McKee was the daughter of Joe Tee and Effie Gresham. Patsy was the fourth of five children raised during the heart of the Depression. Patsy was curious, smart, determined to create a good life for herself, and to do good work in the world. She possessed self-confidence and rarely shied away from challenges.

Patsy was the first in her family to go to college, and she worked five jobs to pay her way through Baylor.

At Baylor, Patsy double majored in radio and sociology and co-hosted a weekly quiz show broadcast from the campus. The boys were returning from the war, and Patsy was vivacious and popular. After graduation, Patsy did something unusual for a single girl from a small town in 1948. She moved by herself to Oklahoma City to work for radio station WKY. Eventually, Patsy moved back home to Waco and began working at W-A-C-O radio. There she met Goodson McKee, the morning broadcaster. After secretly dating (employees were not allowed to fraternize!), Pat and Goodson were married in 1950.

Pat and Goodson created a happy home for their two children, Debbie and Mark. During this time, Pat was active volunteering as a room mother, Camp Fire leader, and the American Cancer Society, and campaigning for McLennan County Democratic Party candidates. When Pat was hired as Executive Director of the Huaco Council of Camp Fire in 1969, she poured all her drive, intelligence, and passion into the program. During her 32 years with Camp Fire, Pat created innovative programs that helped expand the scope of Camp Fire in Waco, Temple and Houston leading to more children served, more programs offered, and more ways to reach underserved children and families. Pat was awarded the Yellow Rose of Texas award by Governor Ann Richards, and a US flag was flown over the Texas Capitol in her honor upon her retirement in 2002.

Pat was preceded in death by Goodson, her husband of 63 years, her parents, her brothers Al, Speedy, and Tommy, and her sister Betty Jo.

She is survived by her daughter Debbie, and wife, Sherry, son Mark, and wife, Terri; four grandchildren Erin, and husband, Scott, Amanda, and husband, Mario, Allyson and husband, James and Colt and wife, Katie.

Pat leaves behind six great-grandchildren: Jay, Maggie, Emily, Hank, Johnny, and Scotty. Pat is also survived by Cathy McMahen, her niece, who lived with her and took care of her for several years.

She also leaves behind her dear friend, Sandy Corwin, who dedicated her time these last years to enhancing Pat’s life by sharing gossip and stories almost every day. Her original Camp Fire group girls, Rhonda Trest, Patti Johnson, and Debbie Fendrick, held Pat in their hearts and visited her often over the 98 years of her life.

Pat was the heart of the family, and she and Goodson created many happy times: out on the boat, midnight snacks, and talking, talking, talking around the kitchen table. Her children knew they were loved, and the grandchildren thought of Grammy’s as the most special place in the world. Pat touched the lives of so many.

Memorials can be made in Pat’s honor to Mission Waco.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Patsy in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com