Jay Gee

CENTRAL CITY - Jay Gee, 81, of Central City, died at Central City Care Center on Saturday, June 13, 2009.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Central City, with Rev. Doug McHargue officiating. Interment will be in the Central City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday, June 15th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Solt Funeral Home in Central City.

Mr. Gee was born on July 27, 1927 in Palmer to Truman Alvah and Etoile (Colburn) Gee, Jr.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Billie Gee of Central City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Howard and Mary Sue Gee of Los Osos, Calif., Dave and Deanna Gee of Grand Island, and Ken and Reva Gee of Brighton, Colo.; his step-daughter, Janet Koenig of Centennial, Colo.; one brother and sister-in-law, Lyle and Darlene Gee of Palmer; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Dwayne Killion of Kearney, and Suzanne and Russ Schmaljohn of Marysville, Mo.; brother-in-law Raymond Leth of St. Paul; and two sisters-in-law, Frances Gee of Golden, Colo., and Mary and Howard Dooley of Valley.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Laree and his son Larry in 1972.

Other survivors include his 13 grandchildren - Nicole Jones, Angie Gee, Lacey Gee, Jadie Andrus, Trisha Schroeder, Sam Gee, Boyd Gee, Sydney Koenig, Evan Koenig, Jesse Koenig, Philip Prochaska, Dave Prochaska and John Prochaska - and seven great grandchildren;

He grew up in Palmer and graduated from Palmer High School in 1944. He attended Nebraska Weslyan University in Lincoln and worked at the foundry while in school. Jay returned to Palmer and farmed with his father for several years. On Sept. 18, 1949, Jay Gee and Laree Butt were united in marriage. They farmed near Elba, St. Paul and Clarks, and in 1956 they moved to farm north of Central City. In 1969, they relocated to Archer and farmed until retiring in 1989. When the rural Merrick County Schools consolidated, Jay drove the bus for the rural students and he also drove the bus for sporting events. Jay and Laree moved into Central City to live after retiring. Jay and Billie R. (Rogers) Prochaska were united in marriage on April 27, 1991, and they made their home in Central City.

Jay grew up in the Christian Church in Palmer. He and Laree were members of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Central City, and he and Billie were currently members of the United Presbyterian Church. Jay loved all sports and had participated in football, boxing, baseball and fast-pitch softball. He avidly followed his sons' sporting events, as well as those of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews,. He enjoyed following the track teams that were coached by his son, Dave. Jay also enjoyed playing cards, he hunted pheasants as a young man and later enjoyed coyote hunting. He and Billie enjoyed the time they spent traveling.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wayne and Richard Gee; two sisters, Gertrude Andrews and Virginia Leth; two stepsons, Bill Prochaska, II and Monte Prochaska; a sister-in-law, Marion Gee; a brother-in-law, Tom Andrews; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. E.A. and Helen Rogers.

Memorials are suggested to the United Presbyterian Church or the Merrick Foundation. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltfh.com