Margaret Jean “Jeanie” Bullock McNees, age 88 of Tuscumbia, passed away on July 26, 2026. The visitation will be 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church with Alan Beasley, Joel Parris, and Hill Carmichael speaking at the service. Her burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia.
Margaret Jean Bullock Finnell McNees was born in her beloved Tuscumbia. Even though she traveled the world in her 70’s, she lived her entire life there saying many times, “There’s no place like Tuscumbia.” She graduated from Sheffield High School one year early and after working as a dance teacher from the age of 15, she received a scholarship in Dance from Sullins College in Bristol, Virginia. She turned down a chance to be a live mermaid at Weekie Wachee Springs and her dream of becoming a Rockette, to pursue another passion – the outdoors, combining dance with spending summers in the Smoky Mountains as a Wilderness Director when she met her husband, Don Finnell. Her life with Don included a career at Head Start where she was Resource Director. She was a natural Girl Scout and Cadette Leader and enjoyed sailing with her family on Wilson Lake. Shattered by the sudden loss of her husband at 34, she discovered she had so many gifts and continued a life of service which included teaching and directing Sunday School, serving on several Boards, including Ivy Green and North Alabama Tourism, Muscle Shoals Service League eventually becoming President of that League and counseling others who had experienced a tragic loss of a loved one.
She discovered she had many talents, including acting. You might have recognized her in the 70’s in the role of “Gingersnaps” in the Florence Music Theatre’s production of “No No Nanette,” Muriel Tate in Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite”, Mrs. Webb in “Our Town”, and Kate Keller in the Tuscumbia production of “The Miracle Worker”, to name a few.
Teaching art to her grandchildren inspired her to begin teaching art to pre-school and elementary children at Howell Graves and Webster Schools, and she continued doing so until she was 81 years old.
Her 30-year membership in The Daughters of the American Revolution included serving in every office available including President. For many years she connected families, not only the American Revolution, but to one another.
She loss the second love of her life “Pete” McNees in 2003.
Her Lessons: Learn from your mistakes. Give your time and energy to help others in need. Don’t complain. Fly your flag. Read your Bible. Plant milkweed.
Her favorite quote: “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings!”
There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they’re gone, the light remains.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Tuscumbia OR The Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Grant, Alabama in memory of Jeanie McNees.
Please visit morrisonfuneralhomes.com to leave condolences for the family.
