Doug McKee

1929 - 2021

1929–2021

Doug McKee, age 91, born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario on September 20, 1929 to Helen Phoebe McKee (Liddle) and Eldon Clifford McKee passed away January 9, 2021 peacefully with his son Dave by his side. Growing up in Kirkland Lake for 6 years and then Brighton for 2 years he moved to Peterborough, Ontario attending high school at Peterborough Collegiate until 1950. Doug was the quarterback for the football team and a starter in basketball. He had summer jobs lifeguarding and at Quaker Oats. During high school Doug met the head cheerleader Joan who became the love of his life. They would spend 75 years together.

Doug obtained his medical degree from University of Toronto in 1954. He did his internship at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1955. Following this was an Internal medicine year at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, 1956. After graduation Doug moved to Longlac, Ontario for General Practice from 1956 until 1965. Wanting always to be a surgeon, he did postgraduate training in Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat) at the University of Toronto and obtained his Royal College Certification and Fellowship in Otolaryngology between 1965 and 1969. Doug then moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario to set up his medical practice as a Consultant in Otolaryngology in December 1969 with his office next to McKellar Hospital from 1969 to 1996.

During his time in Longlac (1956-1965) Doug worked at the Infirmary at the Geraldton General Hospital, Ontario providing medical coverage to Nakina, Aroland and everywhere in between. He was also the Kimberley Clark corporate physician. He loved camping, fishing for speckled trout (has the record in our family), flying with Austin Airways (Archie MacDougall), Albany fishing trips with Elijah Baxter, lifelong friendships with locals Auntie Marg and Uncle Max (Ezewski) and Penna families and living in his first house, the "Doctors House". It is rumored Doug delivered close to 2000 babies during his time there.

While raising 4 children he moved to Toronto (1965-1969) and went back to medical school for 4 years. There, he had great friends Dr. Dave & Molly Pelton and enjoyed skiing, cottaging and picking grapes at his mother's place in Grimsby.

Doug was a genuine, caring and intelligent Ear Nose & Throat doctor to many in Northwestern Ontario for many years. He was a dedicated physician working tirelessly. He especially loved helping children, telling them they had "potatoes in their ears" on examination. He practiced at McKellar Hospital, Port Arthur General Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital and was President of Medical Staff, Chief of Surgery, President of the Thunder Bay Medical Society and involved in the Ontario Medical Association.

1445 Cuthbertson Place was the family home next to Vickers Park. He loved his beautiful perennial gardens (amazing lilies), picking raspberries, building snow sculptures yearly in the front yard, feeding the birds, walking his English setters, working on his collection of Canadian stamps (which collection won countless awards), tennis in "the bubble", playing golf at the Fort William Country Club and entertaining friends and family. He also enjoyed square dancing, Gyro club and European ski trips. Relaxing meant going to the family camp on Lake Shebandowan where he would fish, sauna, tennis (at Lyon's camp), boat, build sandcastles, have huge dinner get-togethers, costume parties, feed ducks and watch birds. Every fall a highlight for him was his hunting trip to Saskatchewan with his family and friends (one trip had 3 generations of McKee's which made him so proud).

Doug married his high school sweetheart, whom he adored, Margaret Joan McKee (Smith) of Peterborough on May 31, 1952. They were married for 68 years (together for 75). They had 4 children- Dave (Susan Hill), Rob (Alison Lyon), John (Kathy Harris), and Kim (Alexander Paterson), 10 grandchildren-Adrian (Becca Campana), Mira (Dane Carlson), Robyn (Jeff Ulmer), Megan (Zac Jones), Ian (Michelle Jackson), Niall (Amy Covello), Eric (Stephanie Fullum), Sam, Ann (Aaron LeBlanc), Abby and 7 great grandchildren - Jaydee, Braxyn, Molly, Riley, Ashlynn, James and Griffin. His family will lovingly remember his rabbit ears and the hardest most genuine hugs.

Doug was predeceased by his mother and father and his sister Gwen (Oscar) Jessen. He has 4 nieces and nephews, Jeff, Judy, Shelley and Derek.

Special thanks to all the staff at Pinewood Court, Chartwell Isabella, The Manor House, Dr. Capricci and Dr. Janhunen for all their genuine care.

A celebration of Doug's life will be held in the summer.

If desired, donations can be made in Doug's memory to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made through
www.nwfainc.com