Ted Ayres McKee

Funeral services for Ted Ayres McKee will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Jeane's Funeral Service with Scotty Goins officiating and Mack Fowler speaking. The burial will follow in Rosepine Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Ronald Davis, Jaime Ward, Jeff Smith, Glen Joiner, Larry Alexander, and Jeffery Manning. A visitation will be held at Jeane's on Tuesday, July 22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Coach Ted Ayres McKee was born July, 29, 1949, to Silas and Lydia Mckee. He was preceeded in death by both parents, as well as his sister, JoAnn. Coach McKee was called to reunite with his family in eternal rest on July 19, 2025. Coach McKee was raised on Bass Road in Rosepine, Louisiana on the dairy farm that his family operated for many years. Coach McKee knew from the age of 8 that his calling was to be a coach, but he was much more than just a coach. He was a mentor and an advocate for many young men and women that he encountered as a lifelong educator. He loved teaching Louisiana History, as well as taking trips to historical locations around the state. Coach McKee was a gifted athlete in high school, and continued his athletic career at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana where he started his family, marrying the former Sandy Carney with whom he had two children, Tony and Mikey (Michele). Coach McKee was also a good student, excelling in academics in high school as well as college. His coach at McNeese encouraged him to pursue a career in the medical field, law, or anything but coaching. But Coach knew his calling and did not waiver from his goal of becoming the best coach that he could be. His coaching journey began in Vernon Parish at Pickering High School where he met and married Mamie Norris. Together they had one child, Tab. He continued his coaching career at Evans before taking the head basketball coaching position at Jena High School. In Jena he met his companion Myrna and their two sons, CJ and Jaime. He remained in Jena coaching for 22 years, impacting countless lives of young men alongside his best friend, June Fowler. Coach McKee was very successful in Jena but the stories he shared with family and friends were never much about the games they won, but the people he shared those experiences with. So many former players and parents have shared their stories with the family over the past few days concerning the impact of his time at Jena High School. After the loss of his father, Silas, Ted returned to care for his mother, Lydia, and coached at Lakeview High School, Burkeville High School, Oberlin High School, DeRidder High School and his alma mater, Rosepine High School. His final coaching chapter was written at Jena High School, where he returned for one final season in 2018. During his later years of coaching, he always had his trusted sidekick sister, JoAnn, on the bench with him. Upon returning to Vernon Parish to live, he was able to enjoy the role as a grandfather to his grandchildren. He loved to attend their sporting events and give advice, mainly about what the grandkids' coaches were doing wrong and how he could do it better! His competitive spirit will live on in the lives of countless numbers of athletes that he had the privilege to coach. Ted was also blessed to watch his grandkids sporting events, and as well to be able to hold both of his precious great-grandchildren.
Those to cherish his memory are his son, Tony Jeane and wife Nona; grandchildren, Mitch and wife Casey, Alex and wife Hannah, and Coral; great-grandchildren, Brennan & Aurora Grace;
Daughter, Michele Goins and husband Scotty; grandchildren, Bradley Goins and Whitney Goins Brownlee and husband Micah;
son, Tab Power and wife Leah; and grandchildren, Tab II & Max.
The family would like to thank the many coaches, former players, and friends for sharing their stories and offering encouragement to the family during this time.
In closing, in the infamous words of Coach McKee himself "Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves".