Frank Pittman Magee, 85, of Columbia, MS, passed away on May 18, 2021, at Brookdale Memory Care in Hattiesburg where he had been a resident for 2 years.
He was born in Jefferson Davis County, MS, on November 25, 1935. The family moved to a few different places but finally settled in the Goodhope/Bunker Hill Community. He graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1954, served in the National Guard, and eventually joined the U.S. Navy. In 1955 he was stationed at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island and was assigned to Patrol Squadron 8 as a radioman. It was the next year that he met Carolyn, the redhead he had been looking for, and they were married in October of 1957.
After Frank was discharged in 1958, they moved back to MS and he began work at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula as an electrician in the nuclear power department. At the end of 1960, he began a 9 year career with Bendix Field Engineering, working with telemetry at Satellite Tracking stations in 4 states and in Madagascar. Finally in 1970 he moved back to Pascagoula, taking a few temporary jobs. At one of them he was able to create a prototype of a cell phone; that was sold by his employer to Motorola. He later went back to the shipyard as a maintenance electrician, then, after a few courses, became a troubleshooter and repair technician on computerized machines of various kinds. In 1997, he finally retired, and they moved back close to his childhood home, where he began his hobby of gardening. Frank always had a wonderful garden and was pleased to share it with friends and family. During retirement, he joined the alumni association of his old unit and traveled to many states and reunions. He also helped Carolyn with the official newsletter of the organization.
Frank was a family man and hosted many picnics in his yard for the Magee and Speights extended families over the years. He was one of the organizers of the Tobias Magee family reunion and was the official picture taker for many years. Frank was a faithful member of Chapel of the Cross United Methodist Church where he had been baptized. He served as a trustee, usher, greeter, communion usher, taped sermons, and always had the organ and piano ready for the musicians. He was known as the quiet man who didn't say much, but everyone loved his greeting of Merry Christmas, regardless of the season. Even after the Lewy Body Dementia had ravaged his brain and destroyed some of his memories, he was there at the church he loved. He was an extremely faithful son, brother, father, paw-paw, and a sweet, loving husband. Everyone will miss that cute little grin that endeared him to people.
He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Edna E. Speights Magee, brothers Grayson and Dan, sister, Margaret E. Magee Harvey. He is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Carolyn Pierce Magee; son Scott Magee; daughter Sherry Magee Miller (Keith); grandsons Kyle (Kelci) and Christian Miller; granddaughter Camryn Miller Tomes (Will); great-grandson Vaughn Thomas Miller; great-granddaughter Tatum Pierce Tomes, one brother, Howard Edsel Magee (Carol); 4 sisters, Ouida Bryant, Volia Gaddis (Roger), Sybil Bullock, Linda Forsman (George); numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and many cousins. Special thanks to niece, Patricia Salassi, and nephew, Steve Magee, who had to be called on many times for help during his illness. Also to Brookdale Memory Care and Compassus Hospice, who cared for Frank with love and compassion.
Graveside services provided by Hathorn Funeral Home will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery on Thursday, May 19, 2021 at 1:30 PM. Pall Bearers: Keith Miller, Kyle Miller, Christian Miller, Steve Magee, Ken Harvey, and Bill Jackson. Officiating, Dr. David Young, Rev. Glenn Freeman, and Rev. Reed Houston, pastor of Chapel of the Cross.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials in his name to Chapel of the Cross, Alzheimer's Association, or Lewy Body Dementia Association.