Ferris Lawayne Magee, 85, of McCook, passed away at the Hillcrest Nursing Home on June 10, 2013.
He was born south of Maxwell on Nov. 11, 1927, to Leroy and Olga (Hansen) Magee. Ferris attended rural grade school, then graduated from UNSA in 1945 in Curtis. He was baptized German Lutheran, but later preferred the Methodist church.
On Aug. 3, 1950, he was united in marriage to Helen Ruppert. The couple celebrated their 62nd anniversary last August. To this union five children were born.
Ferris was born and raised on a farm. He worked as a farmhand from 1941-53, and then he farmed for himself until 1986. Ferris was a lifetime member of the Angus Association and served on the school board. In 1986, the farm was sold and he went to work for Tri-State Livestock Commission until retiring at the age of 80. Ferris and Helen were managers for Forever Living Products from 1979-12.
Ferris enjoyed his family most of all. He was a loving husband, dad and grandpa. He loved working in his yard to make it a showplace for all to see. He was an avid deer hunter for many years.
Ferris was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Orval, Leland and Donald; his sister, Leona and her husband, Kenneth Ruppert; his son-in-law, Kevin Jensen; and a great-granddaughter, Katerina Kalinski.
Ferris is survived by his wife, Helen; his children, Darlene (Daniel) Loper, of McCook, Kathy (David) Benson, of Cambridge, Karen Jensen, of McCook, Kirk (girlfriend, Tiffany Perlinger) Magee, of Culbertson, and Anita (fiancé, Edward Loonam) Hager, of Virginia Beach, Va.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Bonnie (John) Greco, of North Platte, and Shirley (Jim) Brunner; and sisters-in-law, Gerry Magee, of Curtis, and Genevieve Magee, of Atwood, Kan.
A memorial has been established. Online condolances may be shared at carpenterbreland.com.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 14, at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with the Rev. Bonnie Forney and Pastor Alisa Parde officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. Visitation is from 1-8 p.m., Thursday, June 13, with the family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.