Oliver George MCGEE Jr.

1936 - 2012

MCGEE

Former Cincinnati firefighter, housing construction businessman, and real estate entrepreneur, Oliver George McGee, Jr., 75, passed away gently and peacefully on Monday, October 1, 2012 at Mercy Hospital of Fairfield, Ohio. A memorial service celebrating Oliver Jr.'s life will be held 12 Noon-2pm on Monday, October 22, 2012 at Quinn Chapel AME Church, Dr. Fredrick A. Wright, Sr., The Reverend Pastor, 10998 Southland Road, Forest Park, OH 45240, Email: QuinnAMECFP@Fuse.net, Phone: 513-825-4900, Fax: 513-825-5349. Lunch will be served during Repass at 1-2pm. Not only are flowers welcomed, but also the family asks that in lieu of flowers that contributions are made in the form of a check payable to the following charities of your choosing as follows: The American Diabetes Association, United Negro College Fund, Inc., Howard University, American Council on Education, and The Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati. Please mail your contribution to the attention of Jim Frazier, Frazier Financial Advisors, L.L.C., 6300 Frantz Road,Dublin, Ohio 43017, Phone: 614-793-8297, Email: jcallahan@frazierfinancial.com. Oliver Jr. was born November 4, 1936 to the marital union of the late Almeda Schaggs-Clark and the late Oliver George McGee, Sr. in Lexington, Fayette County of Kentucky. Oliver Jr. was a beloved brother, husband, father, and grandfather. Oliver Jr. graduated from Cincinnati Woodward High School in 1956, whereupon shortly thereafter in 1957, he married the former Jean Arnold in Hamilton County, Ohio. In their thirteen year union, three children were celebrated, Oliver George III, Brenda Denise, and Sharon (Sherry), and a nephew, Maurice, they adopted upon the death of Oliver Jr.'s sister, Barbara. In 1961 Firefighter Oliver G. McGee Jr., 25, was the first and only black American in the Cincinnati Fire Department (initiated in 1801 as one of America's oldest firefighting brigades, and created April 1, 1853, as America's first career firefighters unit). Firefighter Oliver G. McGee Jr. served under former Fire Chief Dan Vogel (1957-1966) and former Lt. John Klinger in District 5, Fire Engine Co. 32, Avondale, located near Rockdale Avenue and Reading Road [see "He's a firefighter from A to Z," By Margaret Josten, Of The Cincinnati Enquirer Staff (1967), cf. The Library of Congress]. Fire Engine Co. 32, Avondale is one of the oldest fire engine house and ladder units (established in 1891) in America and the world (alongside London, Boston, and New York). Firefighter Oliver Jr. "entrepreneurially-moonlighted" outside the department, establishing in Avondale a small housing construction and remodeling business in 1964, known as McGee's Remodeling, Inc. expanded years later to O.G. Enterprises, Inc. In his earlier years he was a loyal Cincinnati Chapter Freemason, and was proud of education and free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Later upon the dissolution of marriage between Oliver Jr. and Jean on December 3, 1970, Oliver Jr. and Melvina Jackson married on January 6, 1988 in Butler County, Ohio, and in their union, their child, LaToya was rejoiced. Oliver Jr. was a writer and published in 1978 the book, "Poor Boy Is The Name," (under Exposition Press, Phoenix, Arizona, ISBN-13: 9780682490368, ISBN: 0682490369). He also served the Cincinnati-metro region for many years until retirement as a successful real estate entrepreneur with ReMax Preferred Group Cincinnati. A lifelong lover of dogs, a devoted fan of cowboy movies, and a passionate sports enthusiast of boxing, Oliver Jr. is survived by his four children, Oliver George McGee III, Brenda Denise McGee, Sharon (Sherry) McGee, and Latoya McGee. Oliver Jr. leaves behind his wife, Melvina McGee, who has two daughters and a son from a previous marriage; his sisters, Gloria Wallace and Odella Swift; his step-sister, Johnny Mae Elliot; his brother, Delano James Winfrey; his grandchildren, Leslie, Sa-Leemah, Emani, Nailah, Jeremy, Jamila; his nephews, Howard Maurice, Damon, Robert, Kevin and Harold; his grand-niece, Barbara Jean ("BJ"); his nieces, Veronica, Madonna and Sherri his cousins, Ricky and Ronald, and a host of other cousins, one great grand-daughter, and additional close relatives, long-time friends and numerous business acquaintances. Oliver Jr. is preceded in death by his step-grandfather, Jesse Hurley, his grandmother, Odella (Moore-Hurley) McGee, his grandfather, George Howard McGee, his mother, Almeda (Schaggs-Clark) McGee, his aunt, Letha Schaggs, his cousin, Joyce Schaggs-Randall, his stepmother, Naomi O. Mosley, his father, Oliver George McGee, Sr., his uncles, Yaffee McGee and Sherman Moore, his great aunt, Edith Moore, his sister, Barbara McGee, and his brothers, Buford McGee and Harold Thomas McGee, and his niece, Cassandra McGee. Final arrangements entrusted to Grunn Funeral Home.

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