James "Jay" Lewis McGee, 92, of Burlington, died on Monday, September 3, 2018 at the Sunset Manor in Waverly.

He was born in Gridley, Kansas, on January 27, 1926 to Banard L. McGee and Lovina A. Woods McGee.

Jay graduated from Gridley High School in 1944. On advice from his principal, he sat for military testing and entered the Navy as a V-12 Officers Training Candidate in Aviation. He took basic training and college courses at Pittsburg State University and then went to the University of Iowa for Pre-Flight School. As he was waiting for transfer to flight training, the war ended and Jay returned to Gridley to work in the oil fields.

In May of 1952, Jay graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. He majored in mathematics with minors in physical education and physical science. While at KSTC, he pitched for the baseball team.

Elizabeth Johnson of Burlington became his bride in 1952. They moved to Toronto where Jay taught and coached for four years. In the spring of 1956 a tornado destroyed their home, so they moved to Wichita where Jay worked in the engineering department for Boeing for a short time.

Jay then moved his family to Burlington, where he taught mathematics and coached at Burlington High School for the next 31 years. Jay retired in May of 1988 with a total of 35 years in the education field.

During summers and in his retirement years, Jay enjoyed going to auctions and refinishing antiques. He and Elizabeth purchased and remodeled several properties to develop their rental business. A favorite activity of Jay's was gathering with friends at the local coffee shops. Jay was a member of the American Legion and a 70-year Mason of Hebron Lodge #314 AF AM, Gridley.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Flora Lee Ryan; and two brothers, Banard L. McGee, Jr. and Charles E. McGee. Survivors include his wife Elizabeth; three children, Renee McGee Trimble (Bruce), Gridley, Michael McGee, Aurora, Colorado, and Marc McGee (Alyssa), Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four grandchildren, Tanner Trimble, Emporia, Morgan Trimble, Cape Town, South Africa, and Maxwell McGee and Quincy McGee, both of Washington, D.C.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, September 8, 2018, at 10:30 A.M., at the Jones Funeral Home in Burlington. Burial will follow at Gridley Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 7:00 P.M to 8:30 P.M. Friday evening at Jones Funeral Home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to The Burlington United Methodist Church or the Burlington High School Athletic Department sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, Kansas 66839.