John Ray McGee

John Ray McGee of Farmington, NM passed away on December 13, 2024, at San Juan Regional Medical Center after a brief illness from pneumonia. He was born June 2, 1943, to Ulysses Ray McGee and Ethel Wade McGee in Farmington, NM. He was the 4th of 7 children. John was raised in the Four Corners Area including Delores, Cortez, and Kayenta. He graduated from Farmington High School in 1962. After graduation he joined the Navy where he served until 1968. He returned home, met Betty Mortensen, and went to work for El Paso Natural Gas where he learned welding.

John and Betty married January 31, 1969, in Farmington. In June 1972 they welcomed daughter Lori. Then in 1983 his daughter Tara was born. In 1993 John and Betty were sealed with their daughters in the Dallas Texas Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He worked for El Paso Natural Gas and eventually became a welding inspector. In 1996 he took an early retirement and then spent until 2002 contracting as a welding inspector until he retired permanently from the workforce. He spent the remainder of his life woodworking, doing genealogy, and serving as an ordinance worker with his wife in the Albuquerque Temple until his health wouldn’t allow.

 John was preceded in death by his parents, 3 siblings, and daughter Tara. He is survived by his wife Betty of almost 56 years, daughter Lori (Carl) Vandruff and grandson Kyle Vandruff of Aztec, and grandson Cody Patterson of Farmington. 

 Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1310 E. 25th, Farmington. The viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Interment will follow at Aztec Cemetery.