Margaret McGee

Margaret Ruth (Gettel) McGee, 92 years of age, of Orrstown, PA, was welcomed into the arms of her loving Saviour and rejoined with her husband Roy on January 11, 2019. Margaret was born on May 25, 1926 to Ruth (Fogelsonger) Gettel and James Gettel of Pinola. At a young age Margaret started helping on the family farm milking cows and taught herself at a young age a lot about baking and cooking which she enjoyed doing for her family and everyone that requested her specialties, especially her variation of pies.

Margaret became a part of the work force when she went to work for the former H.J. Heinz Company in Chambersburg where she met her future husband, Roy C. McGee whom she married on July 19, 1947. Roy preceded her in death on February 27, 2015 after spending 67 years together. Margaret’s second year of marriage brought into her life a son, Gary James, and also a new occupation as a farmer’s wife. Margaret and Roy moved to Path Valley where they farmed for Charlie McGee. In 1952 Ray Charles joined the family and shortly after they moved to a farm in Pleasant Hall where they established a dairy herd. Margaret was her own work force, never in one place very long before moving on to the next task. In addition to being a mother and farmer’s wife, she was an avid gardener canning a minimum of 800 quarts of fruits and vegetables per season, making jellies and freezing hundreds more pints and quarts of yet other items in her garden. Margaret had an amazing green thumb, growing beautiful flowers from just twigs stuck in water; her most cherished being red rose climbers. She worked endlessly to keep beauty the entire circumference of her homes.

While living at Pleasant Hall, in the spring of 1955, Margaret became a mother for the third time, a daughter; Judy Anne. Eight years later Margaret and Roy bought the farms where they once lived in Spring Run and moved back to Path Valley. Margaret helped make it happen as harvester silos, new feeding areas, and a new milking parlor evolved over the next few years to house an increased dairy herd of 150 cows. After 15 more years of farming it was time to slow down; the farms were sold and Margaret had a new home to landscape and plenty of garden space. Margaret also worked at McCartney Post 232 American Legion in Dry Run, PA as a cook for parties, banquets, weekends and special events for many years.

Margaret enjoyed life and loved everything she did, especially when it involved cooking and entertaining for her family; she loved holidays with her grandchildren and the McGee family and also the family reunions with her family of 8 siblings. Unfortunately life circumstances took some of these pleasures away but she remained a beautiful person inside or out. In 1987 Margaret went back to work operating the concession stand at Path Valley Speedway which Roy built. Margaret took care of all the ordering for food items and novelty items and made her own recipe BBQ. She kept the equipment so clean it shined and the customers loved the personal touches she shared and the excellent food.
In 2003 Margaret received a diagnosis of Alzheimers; not evident to all but as the years passed she needed more assistance. In 2005 Margaret and husband Roy and their daughter and husband moved into one home so their daughter could take care of them, which she did for the next 13 years.

Margaret McGee is survived by three children; her daughter and caregiver Judy (McGee) Timmons (Guy); sons Ray C. McGee (Sandara) and Gary J. McGee (Kathy); eight grandchildren, Tina, Rushele, Von, Tana, McKenzie, Donovan, Cassidy, and Katie; and nine great-grandchildren; Mikell, Gabriella, Finn, Nevaeh, London, Gulianna, Taylum, Royce, and Macileigh. Margaret is also survived by two sisters, Edna Worthington and Norma Jean Orner (Elwood); one brother, Crist Gettel (Marguerite); a sister-in-law, Sara Gettel, and several nieces and nephews. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; Martha and Mildred Gettel (infant twin sisters); Alice Doyle, Helen Morrow, Barbara Adams; two brothers, Harold and Ralph Gettel; also brother-in-laws Richard Adams, Ellis Worthington, Boyd Morrow, and Richard Doyle; and sister-in-laws Delores Gettel and Gloria Doyle

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church, 16950 Main Street, Spring Run, PA. Rev. Dr. Meagan Boozer and Rev. Harold Yeager will officiate. Interment will follow in Upper Path Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Path Valley Outreach, 11057 Creek Rd., Fannettsburg, PA 17221 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater PA Chapter, 2595 Interstate Dr suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.