Ronald "Ronnie" Watts McGee, 70, of Wilburton, passed away Tuesday, April 6, at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa.  A Rosary will be held Friday, April 9, beginning at 6:00 at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in McAlester.  Family visitation will follow.  Funeral services will be Saturday, April 10, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel in McAlester.  Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wilburton.  Pallbearers are George Royce, Tracy Adam, Richard Carney, Jerry Shackelford, Johnny Zellmer, John Terry, Burt McNeill, and Kent Deligans.  Honorary pallbearers are Glen Flener, George Zellmer, Mike Red Bird and all the other members of the class of 1969, which includes the 1968 state champion football team.  In lieu of flowers and food, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Ronnie McGee was born on December 22, 1950 in McAlester to Jesse Cornelius McGee and Juanita Margaret (Watts) McGee-McAlpine.  He grew up here and graduated from McAlester High School in 1969, where he participated in football and track.  He attended college then worked at a couple of places before returning to the ranch near Wilburton, where he has been ranching ever since.  He also served with the 45 ^th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma National Guard for a number of years, until his honorable discharge.  He and Donna Echelle were married on December 3, 1982 at St. John's Catholic Church in McAlester, and they have been members of the Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Wilburton for a number of years.  Ronnie was an outdoors guy, loved to hunt and fish, and hosted many deer camps for friends and family on the ranch property.  He was also a big sports fan.  Being an exceptional athlete himself, he continued competing as an adult, mainly playing softball with his friends in the city leagues.  He took great joy in watching his kids compete in sports, as well, as they grew up.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Donna McGee; his children, Lauren Agnes McGee, Dr. Sarah Margaret Savage and husband John, and Andrew Watts McGee; his mother-in-law, Fern Echelle; brothers-in-law, Michael Echelle and wife Caroline, and Jimmy Echelle and wife Rita.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Neal McGee; and grandparents, Mose Clarence Watts and Agnes Mae Tayrien Watts.