Fredrick John Gokee, 88, of Monrovia, Alabama peacefully passed away Friday, February 26th, 2021. Fred was born on December 19th, 1932 to LeWanna Delcamp Gokee and Garrel John Gokee in Owosso, Michigan. Fred learned his love for working, building, and creating at the young age of 14 where his first job was in a motor shop. He then went on to work for General Motors and Buick before he joined the Army in 1953.
While in the Army and stationed in Huntsville, AL he met Betty, his wife. He married Betty Sue Nance on February 6th, 1954. They faithfully loved each other for 66 years of marriage. They raised two children, traveled, and eventually rooted their family on Gokee Road in Monrovia, Alabama. Fred was a member of the Church of Christ and was a faithful servant of the Lord all his life. Fred was a member of the Masonic Lodge Lunar 918 and also a 32nd degree Cahaba Shriner. He served for three years in the Army before moving on to work for McDonald Douglass– later Boeing– in Huntsville, AL where he worked as a Quality Assurance Inspector on missiles, for 35 years.
After retiring from Boeing, he loved spending his time working in his shop with his son; building cars, motorcycles, woodworking and much more and enjoyed time at home with his wife. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Fred is survived by his wife, Betty; his two children, Jim, married to Kaye Gokee, and Kathy, married to Phillip Smith; seven grandchildren, Jonathan and Laura Gokee, Melissa Gokee and Kaitlyn Gokee (Jim) and Adriene Smith, and Clay Smith (Kathy); and seven great-grandchildren, Michael and Allison White (Melissa), Bleau and Beau Garrison (Adriene), and Ava, Scarlett and Kat Gokee (Jonathan). He was preceded in death by his parents, Garrell and LeWanna Gokee, and his brother, Glenn Gokee.
There will be a private viewing for family members. A public graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 4th at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
