BEVERLY ANNE MCKEE

BEVERLY ANNE MCKEE August 5, 1940 ~ February 5, 2025
Beverly was born in Calgary, Alberta, on August 5, 1940. The Doctor told her mom (who already had one 5-month-old baby and was feeling understandably overwhelmed by the prospect of another baby so soon) “Now Edith, don’t you worry. This Baby is going to be a Blessing” and he was right. Bev spent her early years on an acreage, then the Family Farm purchased by her father near Cremona, Alberta, where she partook in 4H Calf Club serving as the Secretary for the Didsbury club. She learned to play piano and as a young girl began teaching the local farm children to play. She was always involved in Community from her early years. She attended boarding school with sister Marlene, at Red Deer Composite High School to complete her high school education. Bev then attended Mount Royal College and completed her Business Administration diploma.
At age 20, Bev married Herbert Alden “Mac” McKee in Calgary at St. Barnabas Anglican Church on December 28, 1960. They lived in Calgary while Mac finished his Education. During this time, Bev worked at London Life for several years and other roles in Business Administration. In the early 1960’s, Mac was hired for a teaching position at McCoy High School in Medicine Hat, so they relocated there, building a life together and starting their family.
In her early years, and while daughter Kelly was just a toddler, Bev worked on completing her Piano Teaching Degree with ARCT; successfully achieving her degree while raising a little girl and then baby, Brian. It was with much joy that she taught Piano in the family home to many students in Medicine Hat and area over the years.
Once her children were both in elementary school full-time, Bev began part-time work as the Librarian for the Alberta Law Library at the Medicine Hat Law Courts (which when she started was called the Court of Queen’s Bench and the Provincial Court Library). Bev was an incredible asset to both the Law community and to the general public in Medicine Hat, assisting them with integral and thorough research, in addition to being a beacon of love and light with a listening ear for anyone needing to talk. Many people from all stations of life sat in her office over the years, and all left feeling lighter after spending time with Bev. She remained at the Law Library for 28 years and always said those years were some of the best times she had ever had in her life, helping others in that capacity.
Bev had an unwavering, active Faith in God. It was her quiet habit for years to get up early before anyone else in the house would, read her Bible and pray for others. If she said she was praying for you, you can believe she was. She was not “religious”, but rather had an active, living Faith that showed itself in the way that she loved others, without expectations or strings attached. If you knew Bev, you knew. She never judged others, was gracious with all, and her heart of love knew no bounds.
Her twinkling, sparkly Irish eyes and her hearty laugh were a gift to all who got to know her. She easily got the giggles and brought so much joy to her family and friends. You truly felt that you were the most special person in the world if you got to spend time with Bev. She was genuinely interested in what was happening in your world, and wanted to know how you were doing, whether good or not so good. She was an encourager through and through.
Music, and in particular playing the Piano, was woven into the fiber of who Bev was. When she turned 50, she decided to learn the Violin, took lessons and then played with the Community Orchestra for many happy years. This love of trying new things, no matter what age or stage in life, was an inspiration to all who knew her. She aspired to grow continually as a person throughout her entire life. Most people never knew all the gifts and talents Bev had, as she never spoke of or boasted about any of her many accomplishments, preferring to honour others over herself. Humility and Grace were an integral part of who she was.
Bev was predeceased by her son, Brian Patrick McKee (1970 – 1992) and husband, Herbert Alden ‘Mac’ McKee (1936 – 2021) as well as two brothers, Harvey Dunphy (1947 – 2009) and Wayne Dunphy (1945 – 2023). Bev’s memory will be forever cherished in the hearts of her family: daughter, Kelly (Murray) Schlenker; three sisters, Marlene (Gerald) Dubois, Brenda (Richard) Haener and Sheila Dunphy; two brothers, Larry (Grace) Dunphy and Darryl (Judy) Dunphy; sister-in-law, Dorothy McKee as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Bev’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Oz Lorentzen officiating. Private Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery with a time of fellowship thereafter in the Cook Southland Reception Facility. Bev’s Celebration will be live-streamed. Those who cannot attend but wish to experience her service should visit Cook Southland’s website and select the View Broadcast button on the homepage at service time. If friends so desire, tributes in memory of Bev may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta, 306, 10430 – 61 Avenue N.W., Edmonton, AB., T6H 2J3. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting Cook Southland’s website at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”