William Joseph McBee

William Joseph McBee, age 81, was called home by his heavenly Father around 7:00am, Monday morning, September 16, 2013 at his home in Moses Lake, Washington. Billy was born on February 15, 1932 in Hugo, Oklahoma to Clay T. & Josephine W. McBee.

The family moved to Richland, Washington in 1948 from Henderson, Nevada while Billy's father, Clay was the chief mechanic for Atkinson Construction, a company involved in the construction of Hanford Nuclear Atomic Plant. Billy would gain some important sign painting experience while lettering labels and signs on a variety of structures and tanks in and around the "Area" of Hanford plant.

He graduated from Columbia High School, (now called Richland High School), in 1950. He then received a full-ride scholarship, (room & board), to play baseball for Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was also the starting point guard for the OBU Bison Basketball team.

Billy married Dessie Lee Coleman from Kennewick, Washington, on February 5, 1954 in St. Louis, Oklahoma, and over the next 8 years lovingly brought 5 children into this world.

Billy graduated from OBU in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with major emphasis in Secondary Education and a minor in Art. After his baseball career at OBU he was offered a minor league contract to play baseball, but with a young wife and small child, he decided he needed to teach school, (since a teaching job actually paid more than a minor league baseball contract at that time).

OBU gave him more than an education and more than the opportunity to play the sports he loved: it is there, (which he has proudly and lovingly repeated hundreds of times), that he accepted God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ's death on the cross to take his place. Anyone who talked to him for more than just a few minutes heard about how much he appreciated that gift, and how they needed it and should want it too.

He accepted a teaching and assistant Basketball coach position at Purcell High School, in Purcell, Oklahoma in the fall of 1956. In the fall of 1958 he was hired as an art teacher and head coach at Paoli, (Pay OH luh), High School in Oklahoma. He was "the" coach for all Paoli High School sports: football, baseball, girls' softball, boys' & girls' basketball, and boys' & girls' track & field.

In 1959 he moved his family to Moses Lake where he accepted a teaching and head basketball coaching position at Chief Moses Junior High. He coached the Varsity Basketball team there and taught Arts & Crafts, Photography, and U.S. History, and served as the school's annual yearbook supervisor until he retired in 1985.

He served as deacon and music director for the First Southern Baptist Church of Moses Lake from 1959 until 1983. He also owned and operated the family business, McBee Sign Company from 1959 until his youngest son, James, took over the day-to-day operations in 2008.

He married Patricia M. Sparks of Moses Lake in August of 1987, who was his faithful and loving partner in life and specifically on mission trips, and in the supervision of their rental properties. As a retired nurse, her care of Billy during these last few years became more and more critical, and enabled him to remain home instead of at an impersonal healthcare facility.

He was preceded in death: by a sister, Noami Mae in 1931; a sister, Letha Frances in 1960; his first wife, Dessie L. McBee in 1980; his father, Clay T. McBee in 1987; and his mother, Josephine W. McBee in 2000.

Billy is survived by his wife, Patricia and all of his children, W. David McBee of North Bend, Washington, Stephen J. McBee, Deborah Lee Middleton, Sarah J. Sawyer and James M. McBee of Moses Lake, including 10 grandchildren, 1 step-grandchild, and 13 great grandchildren as well as Patricia's three children, Jimmy D. Walker of Moses Lake, Cindy S. Lester, and Brenda S. Walker, both of La Grande, Oregon.

He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Mary Virginia Lawson of Kennewick, Washington; Carl Taylor McBee of Lincoln City, Oregon; Clay Patrick McBee of Mobile, Alabama; Michael Lee McBee of Finley, Washington; Janyce Mae Shelt, of Kennewick, Washington; and Rebecca Christine McBee-Wilson, (Billy chose the name "Christine") of Newport, Oregon.

Memorial services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Moses Lake, 724 W 4th Ave, this Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 2:00pm. Tax deductible Contributions can be made in the name of Billy McBee by writing checks payable to First Baptist Church - Mingo Project.