Age 78 - Oct 18, 2015

Survived by husband, Alfred McGee; son, Mike McGee; 2 daughters, Sandra McGee, Damita (Ralph D, Jr.) Pope; brother, Benny Moore, Sr.; 3 grandchildren, LaKisha (Donald, Jr.) Neal, Ralph Pope, III, Omaha, Iyana McGee, Los Angeles, CA; 1 great-grandchild, Jayda Mae Neal, Omaha; nieces, nephews, other relatives. No Viewing.

VISITATION with family 9am Saturday, Church.

FUNERAL SERVICE 10am Saturday, Morning Star Baptist Church, 2019 Burdette.

Interment Mt Hope Cemetery.

THOMAS FUNERAL HOME 3920 N. 24th St. 402-453-7111

Longtime OPS teacher treated everyone like family
Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 5:35 am

If you hear someone speaking of a woman who had a magnetic personality or never met a stranger, they could be talking about Mae Doris McGee.

Mae, who died recently at age 78, was a beloved member of the community and of Morning Star Baptist Church, known for her years in education.  Although she had many talents, her passion was for her family.  Alfred R. McGee and Mae married nearly 60 years ago and had three children, Sandra, Mike and Damita.  As their household grew to include in-laws, a grandchildren and a great-grandchild, their family activities only increased.  However, her children would be the first to tell you that even though she was filled with love for others, she was no pushover.  She meant what she said, and she said what she meant.  She gave them advice until the day she died, and they had the ultimate respect for her.

Mae spent 33 years teaching before she retired as an Omaha Public Schools elementary teacher.  Ten years were spent teaching at the former Lake Elementary School and the other 23 years McGee spent at Laura Dodge Elementary School.  In 1997 she won the prestigious Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award.

After she died, her children found this poem written by an unknown author that perfectly described what their mother strove for as a teacher: "Lord, enable me to teach with wisdom, for I help to shape the mind.  Equip me to touch with truth, for I help to shape the conscience.  Encourage me to teach with vision, for I help to shape the future.  Empower me to teach with love, for I help to shape the world."

Mae was such an extraordinary role model that her daughters and a granddaughter embraced careers working with children.  Sandra McGee was an Omaha Public Schools teacher and principal before her early retirement; Damita Pope is a school secretary; and Mae's granddaughter LaKisha Neal is a social worker for Head Start in the Omaha district.  Mae also could take bragging rights for influencing the career of her son, Mike, who played nine seasons in the NBA, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

Growing up with nine brothers and one sister, Mae learned to play basketball well and attended Butler College in Tyler, Texas, on a basketball scholarship.  Her husband also played basketball in school.

Mae exhibited consideration for others and was a spiritual woman who loved the Lord.  With her big heart she embraced close friends and friends of her children as her own.  She was called "grandma" by many.

During her Oct. 24 funeral service, people who considered themselves a McGee child or grandchild were asked to stand.  A multitude of folks stood and smiled as they remembered how she "adopted" them into her family and showered them with love.

Mae reminded me of a song by the Winstons that came out in 1969.  It was a tribute to a man who had treated his stepchildren with so much love, they had to "color him father" and they had to "color him love."  To pay homage to Mae McGee, I'd have to "color her love" — and "color her irreplaceable."

The McGee family has purchased an honorary brick to be placed in the garden at Hospice House — The Josie Harper Residence.  Family members have started a memorial fund at any Wells Fargo Bank to establish scholarships in her name for deserving students.  For more information, contact Sandra at sandelta6@aol.com or LaKisha at jadasmom20@gmail.com.