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March 1, 2007 Lynn LaMar Gee June 21, 1912 ~ February 21, 2007 Dr. Lynn LaMar Gee, 94, of Stillwater, Okla. died on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at Stillwater, Okla. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at Strode Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop Kim Burnham officiating. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Life was a wonderfully long and exciting adventure for Lynn LaMar Gee. He had nearly ninety-five years of life to fill with all kinds of learning, from childhood exploring and mischief, through schooling to gain a doctorate degree and professorship during adult years, to a many faceted and interesting retirement He always had something to work on with his mind or hands. But the look of happiness and contentment was most visible when surrounded by his family. Born June 21, 1912 in St. Anthony, Idaho, Lynn was the third of five sons born to William Erastus and Mary Ellen Kerr Gee. His childhood was filled with brothers, room to roam, and a pony named Top. If there was mischief, his mother knew that Lynn was probably in the middle of it. There wasn't anything he was afraid to try. During his high school years, his energies and talents were channeled into music as the tenor soloist in the school musical productions, on the Madison High debate team as a member of the negative side which won all but the state competition in his junior year, and with the year book staff as the picture editor during his senior year. The Gee family moved during the summer between his junior and senior years. For an ordinary person this would have been hard, but Lynn just picked up where he had left off at Madison High School as he went on to Pocatello High School for a great senior year. One thing that helped the transition was the coach of the debate team that had beat the Madison High team had been hired by Pocatello High, she recognized Lynn right away and let him know she wanted him on her debate team. He and his tenor voice caught the eye and ear of Eileen Eschler who became his wife in 1933. He was enchanted by her ability to dance and willingness to teach him, especially how to tango. To their union were born a son. LaMont, and a daughter, Margo. Lynn and Eileen had been married for seventy-two years at the time of her death in 2005. Beside the number of years together, the way they treated each other was an example to their family and others. Those who had the privilege of seeing them together were touched by their tenderness, especially during Eileen's last illness. Each evening Lynn would be at her beside to sing her to sleep. His education after high school continued at Brigham Young University for his bachelor's degree in microbiology, then to Colorado State University for his master's degree, and finally to the University of Wisconsin for his doctorate received in 1940. His career in microbiology began with the Wisconsin Conservation Department the year before he received his Ph.D. He served as a captain in the United States Army during World War II and as a civilian during the Korean conflict, using his knowledge of microbiology in that service. He taught on the university level between the two wars, first at Purdue University, then at Texas A & M., where he returned after the conflict. He came to Oklahoma State University in 1954 as professor and department head. Lynn's service within the university was broad as was his service in the honorary and professional societies to which he belonged. He retired from the university in 1977. Lynn's family was changing during his years at Oklahoma State University as his children both married and blessed him with eight grandchildren to enjoy during his retirement. This time of retirement was also used to give greater service to his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lynn and Eileen served as missionaries in Canada on the Blackfoot Indian reservation, as guides at the Ogden, Utah visitors' center, and as volunteers at the Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus. Lynn was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his four brothers: Marion. Ivin, Merrill and Vernon. When his last brother died last year, he really felt the loneliness of being the last of his generation. He also had a great granddaughter, Natasha Bianca Gee, who died in infancy. Lynn's living posterity include his son, LaMont Gee and his wife, Nancy, of Stillwater; daughter, Margo Heaps and her husband Mel, of Mesa, AZ; Grandchildren: Penny Young and husband, Rick of Perry; Lawrence and wife, Nikole, of Dacula, GA; Laura Telles and husband, Jacques, of Mesa, AZ; Barbara Cragun and husband, David, of Bartlesville; Wes Heaps of Salt Lake City, UT; Richard and wife, Shana, of Blandinsville, IL; David of Glcncoe; and Spencer and wife, Laura, of Stillwater; Great grandchildren Robert, Raleigh, and Connor Gardine; Samantha, Heather and Jared Gee; Kim, Caleb, Brenna and Brandon Cragun; Rafael Gee and his mother, Nilmaria; and Israel and ShoShana Telles. |
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