Nancy J. McKee

Nancy J. McKee, 83, died Wednesday afternoon, January 2, 2019, at St. Vincent Heart Hospital in Carmel. She was born July 4, 1935, to John E. and Charlotte (Stingley) Lehr at Mulberry, Indiana, where she lived until enrolling at Indiana University in 1953. She entered the IU School of Nursing program on the Indianapolis medical center campus the following year and earned the baccalaureate degree in 1957. She later earned both a Master’s degree (1978) and Doctoral degree (1985) in nursing from IU. She married Dale F. McKee on September 8, 1956. She worked in obstetrical nursing at the Clinton County Hospital at the time of their marriage. After the births of three children, she resumed her professional career as a nurse educator at Indiana State University. Nancy started as a part-time clinical instructor in 1966 and retired as Acting Dean of the ISU School of Nursing in 1997. Upon retirement she was conferred the title Professor Emerita. Her classroom teaching focused on maternity nursing. She also served in multiple administrative roles including time as department chairperson and associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Nursing. In recognition of her long career in nursing, Gov. Evan Bayh appointed Nancy to the Indiana State Board of Nursing in 1994 and she served in that capacity until 1998. In 2010, Nancy and Dale established the McKee Nursing Center on the ISU campus as a resource for nursing students—a quiet place to study and interact with other students engaged in the same rigorous professional academic pursuit. The University honored both Nancy and Dale with the University Medallion in 1997 and both served as Homecoming Parade Marshals in 1998. They also established the Nancy and Dale McKee Family Scholarship in 2006 that provides financial support for non-freshman students. After retirement, Nancy and Dale lived in Sun Lakes, AZ, during the winter months and traveled extensively all over the United States. They continued to maintain a residence in Terre Haute until 2015 when they moved to Carmel. Nancy was an ordained Elder and Deacon in the Presbyterian Church and was a 50-year member of Central Presbyterian Church in Terre Haute. She also was as associate member of Chandler (AZ) Presbyterian Church and joined Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis in 2016. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi as well as a member of P.E.O. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Dale F. McKee, of Carmel; a son, Craig M. McKee and his wife, Diann E. McKee, of Terre Haute; a daughter, Elizabeth A. McKee, of Carmel; and a son, Christopher J. McKee, of Indianapolis. A memorial service is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis. The Rev. Chris Henry will officiate. Family members will greet friends and guests in the church’s parlor from 12 noon until the service begins. The family encourages friends to consider supporting the important work of Indiana State University in lieu of sending flowers. Gifts in memory of Nancy to support either the McKee Nursing Center or the McKee Family Scholarship, the proceeds of which focus on enriching higher education opportunities for undergraduate students, may be sent to the Indiana State University Foundation (30 N. 5th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809).