Margaret Joan McKee

Margaret "Joan” Spencer McKee passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025, in St George, UT. She was surrounded by her family. She was born on May 22, 1936, in Montpelier, ID, to Seymour Horne Spencer and Sarah Sophronia Quayle. She married Burton Clair McKee on June 7, 1956, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Joan’s mother passed away shortly after her birth, and her family moved to Fillmore, UT the next year. She graduated from Millard High School in May of 1954. She enjoyed many extracurricular activities, participating in Band, Pep Club and Cheerleading. She represented her school at Girl’s State after her Junior Year. Joan attended Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) for two years and was very active: joining the Kappa Delta Sorority while also participating in the ROTC Sponsor Corp, Concert Band and Orchestra.

Joan married Clair in 1956 and then attended Brigham Young University and graduated in 1958, with a Teaching Degree. She taught Elementary School in Salt Lake, 2 years, and Vernal, 1 year. The couple moved to Las Vegas, NV, where she taught for 3 more years. Joan and Clair adopted 3 children and raised them in Las Vegas. She temporarily retired to be a stay-at-home mother until her youngest child was in first grade. After she returning to teaching Joan went on to earn a Master’s Degree. She then taught Kindergarten until her retirement in 1993.

Joan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings. Music was a huge part of Joan’s life. She sang in many choirs both in school and in Church. She played the piano and organ in church and for choirs. Joan and Clair served as ordinance workers in the new Las Vegas Temple. After retiring, they then sold their home and served an LDS mission for 18 months in Samoa and then Arizona. They then moved to St George, UT. They served in the St George Temple for many years as well.

Joan is survived by her three children, Jill M Temple (St George, UT), Randy McKee (Ivani, Las Vegas, NV) and Rich McKee (Debi, Texas) They have 7 grandchildren as well as 18 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Clair, and grandson Jordan.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at St George Regional Hospital for the good, compassionate care that was given to their mother. We would also like to thank Dixie Hospice for helping us with her wish to come home, we could not have done it without you.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 820 N Valley View Dr, St George, UT.  Viewing will be from 9 - 9:45 am. Interment will take place at the Holden City Cemetery, Holden, UT.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St, St George, UT, 435-673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Joan's online guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com