1941
Donald
2020
Donald William Kee
October 5, 1941 — September 28, 2020
Donald William Kee, 78 of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Verna Mears Kee entered into eternal rest Monday, September 28, 2020. A private memorial service will be held at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road and burial will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. At a later date the family will hold a celebration of his life at home.
Don was born in Atlanta, Georgia, son of the late Jack Hale Kee, Sr and the late Frances Elizabeth Smith Kee. When he was a boy the family moved to the Isle of Palms, SC where he grew up fishing, hunting and living the small town beach life. Before graduating from Moultrie High School in 1961 he was a star football player and Captain of the team. He also was a lifeguard on the beach and a school bus driver.
After high school Don served in the US Coast Guard and reserves. In 1966 he began what was to become an extensive 46 year career in the maritime industry that started on the Charleston waterfront with Carolina Shipping Company's stevedore division. It was during this time he met his wife Verna Mears Kee and they began their lifetime of adventure together. In 1989 Carolina Shipping Company was acquired by SSA Marine, a worldwide provider of stevedoring and marine terminal management. At this time, Don became SSA's general superintendent of South Atlantic operations. In 1994 SSA Marine began a joint venture with Greystones Cargo Systems in South Africa and Don was given the opportunity to take over as general manager in South Africa. Being an avid hunter all his life Don jumped at the chance. It was to have been a 2 year venture, and when questioned about moving so far away, Don famously replied, "Shoot, I can stand on my head for two years!" That 2 year venture turned out to be 6 action packed years, during which time he and Verna traveled extensively in Africa, Asia and Europe. Many new friendships were formed both through work and hunting expeditions. Friends from USA visited for safaris and white water rafting expeditions on the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe.
The last 10 years of his career brought another exciting opportunity. In 1999 Don was promoted to Regional VP for SSA Marine's Pacific South West Division, based in Long Beach, California and includes ports from San Diego to Stockton and beyond. Don and Verna then moved to Huntington Beach, California. These were dynamic years, filled with international travel for his job, but true to form, Don always managed to make friends and find time for hunting and fishing trips. It was also during this time that Don and Verna were able to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a yacht. Friends joined them for cruises off the coast of California and Mexico, thereby earning him the name "Cap'n Don".
During all the years his career took him away from South Carolina, it always remained "home". He always managed to make it back for Christmas and family events that took place over the years, and to catch up with old friends.
In 2010 Don retired from the maritime industry and moved back to Mount Pleasant, SC to begin yet another chapter of adventure travel, hunting and boating on the Wando River. By this time his 3 young grandsons had arrived on the scene. They soon became the main focus of his life and he looked forward to showing them all of life's adventures.
Don never met a stranger and he never forgot a friend. He was known to be "strong as an ox" and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Over the years Don's hunting expeditions took him all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Africa. He was a charter member of the Woodville Sportsman Society which took him on canoe and whitewater rafting expeditions all over the southeast United States. Other club affiliations are Charlie Wood Hunt Club and Goose Bay Hunt Club. He was a former member of Etiwan Masonic Lodge #95.
Don passed away at home after an extended illness, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Verna Mears Kee of Mount Pleasant, SC; four children, Susan Kearse Clayton (Jimmy) of Ehrhardt, SC, Stephanie Coste Kee Henderson (Scott), Cameron Kee (Emily), and Ansley Kee Galman (Marc), of Mount Pleasant, SC; three grandsons, Logan Galman, Andrew Galman, and Levi Galman, of Mount Pleasant, SC; two brothers, Jack Hale Kee, Jr. of Mount Pleasant, SC and Rodney Earl Kee (Lisa) of Sumter, SC, five nephews, Jack Hale Kee, III of Charlotte, NC, Alex Kee (Brooke) of Sumter, SC, Will Kee of Sacramento, CA, Tyler Mears (Ryan) of Columbia, SC, and Ian Mears of Charleston, SC; two nieces, Jennifer Kee Baker (Scott) of Huger, SC and Erin Kee McGovern (Conor) of Cheverly, Md.; two cousins, Melanie Kee of Sacramento, Ca. and Linda Kee Jefferies (Rick) of Orangevale, Ca.
Memorials may be made to a hospice of your choice or to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
Don was born in Atlanta, Georgia, son of the late Jack Hale Kee, Sr and the late Frances Elizabeth Smith Kee. When he was a boy the family moved to the Isle of Palms, SC where he grew up fishing, hunting and living the small town beach life. Before graduating from Moultrie High School in 1961 he was a star football player and Captain of the team. He also was a lifeguard on the beach and a school bus driver.
After high school Don served in the US Coast Guard and reserves. In 1966 he began what was to become an extensive 46 year career in the maritime industry that started on the Charleston waterfront with Carolina Shipping Company's stevedore division. It was during this time he met his wife Verna Mears Kee and they began their lifetime of adventure together. In 1989 Carolina Shipping Company was acquired by SSA Marine, a worldwide provider of stevedoring and marine terminal management. At this time, Don became SSA's general superintendent of South Atlantic operations. In 1994 SSA Marine began a joint venture with Greystones Cargo Systems in South Africa and Don was given the opportunity to take over as general manager in South Africa. Being an avid hunter all his life Don jumped at the chance. It was to have been a 2 year venture, and when questioned about moving so far away, Don famously replied, "Shoot, I can stand on my head for two years!" That 2 year venture turned out to be 6 action packed years, during which time he and Verna traveled extensively in Africa, Asia and Europe. Many new friendships were formed both through work and hunting expeditions. Friends from USA visited for safaris and white water rafting expeditions on the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe.
The last 10 years of his career brought another exciting opportunity. In 1999 Don was promoted to Regional VP for SSA Marine's Pacific South West Division, based in Long Beach, California and includes ports from San Diego to Stockton and beyond. Don and Verna then moved to Huntington Beach, California. These were dynamic years, filled with international travel for his job, but true to form, Don always managed to make friends and find time for hunting and fishing trips. It was also during this time that Don and Verna were able to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a yacht. Friends joined them for cruises off the coast of California and Mexico, thereby earning him the name "Cap'n Don".
During all the years his career took him away from South Carolina, it always remained "home". He always managed to make it back for Christmas and family events that took place over the years, and to catch up with old friends.
In 2010 Don retired from the maritime industry and moved back to Mount Pleasant, SC to begin yet another chapter of adventure travel, hunting and boating on the Wando River. By this time his 3 young grandsons had arrived on the scene. They soon became the main focus of his life and he looked forward to showing them all of life's adventures.
Don never met a stranger and he never forgot a friend. He was known to be "strong as an ox" and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Over the years Don's hunting expeditions took him all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Africa. He was a charter member of the Woodville Sportsman Society which took him on canoe and whitewater rafting expeditions all over the southeast United States. Other club affiliations are Charlie Wood Hunt Club and Goose Bay Hunt Club. He was a former member of Etiwan Masonic Lodge #95.
Don passed away at home after an extended illness, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Verna Mears Kee of Mount Pleasant, SC; four children, Susan Kearse Clayton (Jimmy) of Ehrhardt, SC, Stephanie Coste Kee Henderson (Scott), Cameron Kee (Emily), and Ansley Kee Galman (Marc), of Mount Pleasant, SC; three grandsons, Logan Galman, Andrew Galman, and Levi Galman, of Mount Pleasant, SC; two brothers, Jack Hale Kee, Jr. of Mount Pleasant, SC and Rodney Earl Kee (Lisa) of Sumter, SC, five nephews, Jack Hale Kee, III of Charlotte, NC, Alex Kee (Brooke) of Sumter, SC, Will Kee of Sacramento, CA, Tyler Mears (Ryan) of Columbia, SC, and Ian Mears of Charleston, SC; two nieces, Jennifer Kee Baker (Scott) of Huger, SC and Erin Kee McGovern (Conor) of Cheverly, Md.; two cousins, Melanie Kee of Sacramento, Ca. and Linda Kee Jefferies (Rick) of Orangevale, Ca.
Memorials may be made to a hospice of your choice or to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald William Kee, please visit our flower store.
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