Laraine Debra McKee

Our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully with her family by her side on February 17, 2026 in the care center in Panguitch, Utah.
Debra was born at home on August 27, 1945 in Superior, Arizona. She was the second child, but the first girl born to Sumner C. O'Donnal and Emogene Fendley. Debra and her older brother were soon joined by three more sisters. The family moved to Mesa, Arizona when Debra was 11 years old, so the children could have more opportunities for church activities and to broaden their dating pool.
The move to Mesa turned out to be fortunate for Debra because they moved into the same ward as Norman Ray McKee's family. Debra loved growing up in Mesa and going to Mesa High School where she participated on the drill team known as the Rabbettes. As she got older she paid more attention to the handsome Norman McKee as he sat at the sacrament table on Sundays. They dated a few times, and after he returned from serving a mission, they were married on April 24, 1964 in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Debra worked as a beautician until 1966, when they left Mesa for Logan, Utah for Norman to attend Utah State University and Debra worked for Casper's Ice Cream making Nut Sundies and Creamies. They moved to Kanab Utah for Norman's job in 1968 after graduation and wanted to start a family. After many fertility treatments, their first child, Eileen, was born. The family moved to Panguitch in 1970 where 4 more children were added to the family, Darwin, Laresa, and twins Brent and Brenda. She loved the cool climate and small town feel of Panguitch and spent many hours enjoying the outdoors, enhanced by Norman's career as a wildlife officer and biologist.
Debra was a stay-at-home mom until she started to help in the Special Education classroom when the twins were in 2nd grade. She also worked as a CNA at the hospital, at the front desk at Ruby's Inn near Bryce Canyon, doing group sales, and finally as an office manager at Western Town so she could be closer to home. Debra quit in 2000 to take care of her sister, Sandy until her death.
Mom was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving faithfully in many callings. She loved her callings in Young Women and Relief Society and also served as the ward music leaders for several years. Her gift of service extended into the community and was involved in local and regional PTA for many years. Her love of genealogy and service matched perfectly when she joined the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and spent 40 years serving and leading in the organization.
Debra's greatest role was being a wife, mother, grandmother and now great grandmother. Her 5 kids, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren were her world. Mom loved to make everything around her beautiful and fun. The simple things in life made her happy, flower gardens, recipe books, memory books, and small thoughtful gifts.
She is survived by her children Eileen (Nolberto) Castro, of Murray, UT; Darwin (Sara) McKee of Saratoga Springs, UT; Laresa (Chad) Waller, of McKinney, TX; Brent (Kellen) McKee, of Reserve, NM; Brenda McKee of St. George, UT; 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren with one more expected this summer; her sister Gail (Alan) Mattison, of Gilbert, AZ; her sister Regina Montijo, of Mesa, AZ. Debra was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ronald and her sister Sandy.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 12 noon in the Panguitch Stake Center, 550 South 100 West, Panguitch, UT. A viewing will be held on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Stake Center, and Saturday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Panguitch City Cemetery.

You are invited to watch the services through the Zoom link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88620150341?pwd=aDbc5wx2b44zh730GToELdMaGjYSyW.1