Thomas L. McGhee, Sr.
April 11, 1934 ~ December 11, 2018 (age 84) 84 Years Old
Tribute
Thomas Leroy McGhee Sr., 84 yrs old, of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Kennett, MO, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2018. He was born in Kennett, MO on April 11, 1934 to Odessa (Reed) McGhee and Joseph Albert McGhee. In 1950, Tom married Peggy Lee Masterson, Kennett, MO. To this union, 2 sons were born, Thomas Mitchell McGhee and Michael Miles McGhee. On September 28, 1954 he married, Rosalee Ann Tuggle of Kennett, MO. They were blessed with 7 children, Denise Ann (Bob) Youngclaus, Thomas Leroy McGhee, Jr, Deborah Jo Francis, Timothy Clark McGhee, Donna Lynn (John) Lund, Cynthia Damaris (Nathan) Duncan, and Deanna Lee (Greg) Sunday.
Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Rosie; his son, Michael Miles McGhee; his father and mother; and also siblings, infant brother John David McGhee, Demaris Ann McGhee, Odessa (Diddy) Margaret Sample, and Joe Reed McGhee. Survivors include brothers, Robert (Jim) McGhee and Charles Reed McGhee. Also surviving are 8 children, 20 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom referred to him as “Pop”.
In 1964, Tom graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, with a degree in pharmacy. In 1966, he piloted his own plane and took his wife Rosie and 4 children, Mitch, Mike, Denise, and Tommy, Jr to Tallahassee, FL to take Florida Pharmacy State Boards. He passed and became a Florida licensed pharmacist in addition to a Missouri licensed pharmacist. His father, Joe McGhee, also a pharmacist, owned and operated McGhee Rexall Drug Store in Kennett, MO. Tom purchased the pharmacy from his father and renamed it McGhee Drug Store. He owned and operated this pharmacy for many years. Tom was deeply involved in the community. In addition to the pharmacy, he owned and operated McGhee Aviation. He was also a hospital pharmacy administrator, ran for Kennett School Board and was instrumental in creating the original Nursing Home in Kennett.
Tom and Rosie relocated to Winter Haven/Lakeland, FL area in 1989. He continued practicing pharmacy and his love for aviation. Tom was the Winter Haven, FL Hospital Pharmacy Director for over 10 years. Rosie lovingly supported him in all of his endeavors. They worked side by side in these ventures through many challenges, thick and thin. He and Rosie operated a Flight school in Winter Haven, FL, for many years. In 2016, Tom received the distinctive recognition for having maintained a Florida pharmacist license for 50 years.
Tom inspired numerous people over the course of his life to become pharmacists and pilots. But most of all his inspirations were for all of his friends, coworkers, family members and anybody he would meet to be positive and reach beyond all expectations to become anything you wanted to be. He will be deeply missed by so many.
A time for a family and friends gathering to celebrate Tom and Rosie’s lives is pending.
The family requests Memorial contributions, in Thomas L. McGhee’s name, made to the Alzheimer’s Association. For your convenience, here is the Alzheimer Association’s link:
https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/
Words of comfort may be expressed by clicking the “GUESTBOOK” link.
Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Rosie; his son, Michael Miles McGhee; his father and mother; and also siblings, infant brother John David McGhee, Demaris Ann McGhee, Odessa (Diddy) Margaret Sample, and Joe Reed McGhee. Survivors include brothers, Robert (Jim) McGhee and Charles Reed McGhee. Also surviving are 8 children, 20 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom referred to him as “Pop”.
In 1964, Tom graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, with a degree in pharmacy. In 1966, he piloted his own plane and took his wife Rosie and 4 children, Mitch, Mike, Denise, and Tommy, Jr to Tallahassee, FL to take Florida Pharmacy State Boards. He passed and became a Florida licensed pharmacist in addition to a Missouri licensed pharmacist. His father, Joe McGhee, also a pharmacist, owned and operated McGhee Rexall Drug Store in Kennett, MO. Tom purchased the pharmacy from his father and renamed it McGhee Drug Store. He owned and operated this pharmacy for many years. Tom was deeply involved in the community. In addition to the pharmacy, he owned and operated McGhee Aviation. He was also a hospital pharmacy administrator, ran for Kennett School Board and was instrumental in creating the original Nursing Home in Kennett.
Tom and Rosie relocated to Winter Haven/Lakeland, FL area in 1989. He continued practicing pharmacy and his love for aviation. Tom was the Winter Haven, FL Hospital Pharmacy Director for over 10 years. Rosie lovingly supported him in all of his endeavors. They worked side by side in these ventures through many challenges, thick and thin. He and Rosie operated a Flight school in Winter Haven, FL, for many years. In 2016, Tom received the distinctive recognition for having maintained a Florida pharmacist license for 50 years.
Tom inspired numerous people over the course of his life to become pharmacists and pilots. But most of all his inspirations were for all of his friends, coworkers, family members and anybody he would meet to be positive and reach beyond all expectations to become anything you wanted to be. He will be deeply missed by so many.
A time for a family and friends gathering to celebrate Tom and Rosie’s lives is pending.
The family requests Memorial contributions, in Thomas L. McGhee’s name, made to the Alzheimer’s Association. For your convenience, here is the Alzheimer Association’s link:
https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/
Words of comfort may be expressed by clicking the “GUESTBOOK” link.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas L. McGhee, Sr., please visit our floral store.
© 2024 Lakeland Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy