Ira Jim McKee

Ira Jim McKee was born January 15, 1943 in Ardmore, Oklahoma to Chester Leroy McKee and Opal Bernice Williams McKee. He was the youngest of three boys and had one younger sister. During his younger years, he was raised in Fox, Oklahoma. He learned the value of hard work from a young age working as a café dishwasher when he was twelve years old. He was too short to reach the sink, so he stood on a box to get the job done. When he was fifteen his family picked up the house and all and moved to Wilson, Oklahoma where he graduated from high school. His high school job was that of a school bus driver. He married the love of his life, Pat Wood at the ripe old age of seventeen, and became a father at age eighteen. After high school, he joined the National Guard. In 1963, he moved his pregnant wife Pat, and 2-year-old daughter, Tina Lynn to Plano, Texas. Jimmy Ray was born shortly after the move into the new house. At that time, he worked for the post office in Dallas, Texas. His job at the Post Office lasted for 5 years until he became a Dallas Police Officer in 1967. Over the course of thirty-one years as a police officer, he had many exciting adventures before retiring in 1998. He was a patrol officer, a trainer, and an arms trainer who achieved the rank of Senior Corporal. He trained one of the first two female officers to work for the Dallas Police Department. One of his most nerve-wracking experiences as a police officer involved being shot in the line of duty in 1991. Two robbery suspects shot him and his partner as they held a family hostage in an apartment. Even though he was shot in the abdomen, he entered the apartment and apprehended the suspects. As a result of his heroic act, he was one of seven officers who received the Medal of Valor from the state of Texas that year. He had several other "close calls" that gave his family plenty of chances to worry. He spent the last 4 years of his work with the DPD as a firearms instructor and armorer (someone certified to dismantle and repair firearms). He retired in August of 1998 with the current Chief of Police and four former Chiefs of Police in attendance. Retirement provided Jim time to do more of the things he loved. He traveled, gardened, welded, tamed animals, square-danced, caught lots of fish, and faithfully attended a Sunday game night with friends and neighbors. Some of his favorite trips included cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his readiness to laugh, his great cooking, the way he connected with people, and the fact that he was always willing and able to help all who needed him. There never seemed to be something broken that he couldn't fix. He is preceded in death by his father Chester LeRoy McKee, his mother Opal Williams McKee, and his brother Leroy Cleveland McKee. Ira Jim had his loved ones with him as he died peacefully at his home in Trinidad, TX on September 24, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Pat McKee of Trinidad, TX, his sister, Catherine Williams and husband Dwight of Healdton, OK, his daughter, Tina McKee Hardison and her husband Ken of Fairview, TX, his son Jimmy McKee and wife Sherry of Forney, TX, grandson Jason Hardison of Fairview, TX, granddaughter, Kristi Arnwine and husband, Brent of Melissa, TX, granddaughter Marisa Zitterich and husband Kyle of Forney, TX, granddaughter Valerie Peters and husband Mark of Little Elm, TX; great-granddaughters, Madison and Haley Arnwine, great-grandson Hayden Peters, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Donations to honor Jim may be made to the: Assist the Officer Foundation, 1412 Griffin Street East, Dallas, TX 75215 http://atodallas.org/support

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