Robert “Bob” Mcghee

Robert “Bob” McGhee of St George, Utah, passed away at the Ivins Veteran’s Home on November 24, 2015.  Bob was born to Alva McGhee and Elma (Gott) McGhee on July 15, 1924 in Emma, Illinois.

Bob attended school in Illinois.  With the onset of World War II Bob joined the Navy and is one of the “underage” vets who enlisted before they were the legal age of 18.  Bob served in the Pacific Theater during the war until he was honorably discharged in October 1945 at which time he attended Diesel Mechanic school in Chicago, Illinois.

Bob married his wife of almost 72 years, Shirley M (Short) McGhee on Jan 25, 1944.  Together they worked and lived in many states trailing the petroleum industry until they settled in Glendive, Montana, where they lived for 30 years while raising their family and operating petroleum service companies.  In 1973 they moved to Utah where they resided until they retired to Phoenix for the winter and Utah for the summer.

Bob’s favorite thing was to be surrounded by his family and friends and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. His favorite saying was “How about them Cowboys!” Shirley always said, “Bob never met a stranger” and that truly sums up the many years of friendships they maintained throughout the country from Texas to Alaska from the East Coast to the West Coast.  Bob was a devoted husband and father and the light of his life was his children, grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.  As his grandson, Troy says, he was a great man from the greatest generation!

Bob was an intuitive and self-made man whose business sense and amazing work ethic has been passed on to his children and grandchildren.  They will perpetuate his legacy!

Bob is survived by his loving wife Shirley, St George,  his daughter Sherry McGhee, St George, 3 grandsons—Troy (Vicki) McGhee of Ogden, UT, Jarrod Bolton of Roosevelt, UT, and Chris (Krista) Bolton of Phoenix, AZ and his great grandchildren—Gage, Conor and Norah, Beau and Elli—who brought him much joy even at the end.  He was always asking where the “boys” were—his 3 grandsons!  As long as he knew they were safe and ok, then he was happy!  He was preceded in death by his son, Robert “Butch” McGhee, Jr and his brother Don McGhee, and his parents.

Memorial Services with military and Masonic rights will be held on January 16, 2016, at 11 am at Tonaquint Cemetery, followed by a Celebration of Life at his daughter’s home in St George.

The family would like to thank all the loving and kind people who assisted and aided Bob at the Ivin’s Veterans Home and the Journey of Hope Hospice who truly made his last days the best possible.  Thank you for your kindness, care, and concern for Bob and the family.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either the Ivin’s Veteran’s Home or the Journey of Hope Hospice in St George in Bob’s honor.