Myrna Ellen Dillard McGee was born on Thursday, April 30, 1942, and went home on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the age of 82. She deeply loved her children: Kathy (Gregg) Woodyard, Doug (Wanda) McGee, Keith (Lesa) McGee, and Kristi (Vince) Leak. She also cherished her thirteen grandchildren—Ashley, Wes, Brody, Angelik, Austin, Savannah, McKenzi, Jesse, Jacob, Anna Leigh, Maryn, Caroline, and Josie—as well as her four great-grandchildren, Lucas, Lauren, Amelia, and Mary Harper; sister, Martha Ray.
Throughout her life, the family lived in many houses before settling in Albertville in 1979. She transformed each house into a warm and loving home. A talented cook, she welcomed everyone with open arms for a meal or a visit. She was also a compassionate listener, helping many simply by offering a sympathetic ear. She taught her children, “You don’t hate anyone; you hate the way they act, but not the person.”
Her favorite celebrities were Willie Nelson and Denzel Washington. She loved the color yellow, enjoyed reading, and adored all animals—except for snakes. She didn’t hate snakes; she just hated the way they acted. She found joy in hand-quilting baby blankets for newborns and knitting dishcloths for family and friends.
She passed peacefully in the presence of her daughter Kristi and granddaughter Ashley Leak. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her parents, Lamar and Virginia Dillard; her brother, Bill; and her grandson, Dylan. Though she lived a quiet and simple life, her impact was far-reaching.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the Chapel of Adams Brown Service Funeral Home, with her nephew Jeff Ray officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery in Albertville, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter, 130 County Road 398, Boaz, Alabama 35957.
