Wilfred McFee

From Krissy's wedding photo, summer 2010 (from K's Facebook pics)

Got this off Kim's Facebook - Kim must be about 2, Krissy 5 - some carrots!

We're attending visitation for Willie McFee today, and his funeral tomorrow. He is the father of our good friends Jeff (our Creston buddy) and Joan McFee (my roomie). He was 86 years old and was in very poor health for the past year - especially this past winter. He was ready to go.

Willie had been hospitalized recently, and was so weak when Medicare said it was time to go home. Joan told me Home Health Care had evaluated him and said he qualified for Hospice. On Wednesday he said he was ready to go to the Hospice House near the hospital in Creston. He passed away Thursday evening about 9 p.m.

We've known Willie, a farmer, for years, mostly because we've known Bobbie and Jeff for years. Willie and wife Phyllis enjoyed following the grandkids' activities. So we saw them at ballgames, dance recitals, and graduation parties until the kids went off to college. Amy and Jud are the same ages as Bobbie and Jeff's kids - Krissy and Kimmy. We also attended the funeral of their son Craig, who died in 2003.

The McFees have been kind enough to include us in some of their fam celebrations. You see, we're orphans, kinda. Real ones, when it comes to having parents. My dad was the last to go in late 2006. We don't have a lot of family in Iowa either, and none in southwest Iowa. We've been lucky enough to be invited to McFee fam birthdays - big sis Jeannie's 50th, Joan's 50th and of course all the big stuff with Bobbie and Jeff.

Last year we even got to be honorary McFees for Easter - hanging with the McFees, Bobbie's family plus the extended McFee fam. Living with Joan, I got to know more about the relatives, their stories. The family originates from Canada. And there are a lot of them (relatives and stories)! Easter 2011 was the last time I saw Willie. Seeing him really reminded me of Paul's dad, toward the end of his life. Willie was using oxygen, like George, both were sharp as a tack and seemed content to sit and listen to conversation - enjoying the family he had help create.

I hope this funeral can be a celebration of a good life. He was ready to go. From what Joan and Jeff said, the poor guy was miserable and had no quality of life. Those left behind are the sad ones. No one is ever ready to let go of the person who was inside that withering body. It's so permanent. It's one reason I like to get together with my sisters - relishing our joint memories of our parents. I'm glad my children got a chance to know them - though they were pretty young when Mom died.

I look forward to seeing the McFees today and attending Willie's funeral tomorrow. He needs a proper sendoff for a life well-lived.