Mooreland Cemetery

Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma

© Billings Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Robert James Kee

May 8, 1949 ~ February 18, 2023

On February 18, 2023, Robert James 'Jamie' Kee passed into Glory after a four-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was surrounded by his adoring family, including his wife Suzanne, of 52 years.

Jamie was born to Kathryn Hoge Kee and Robert "Bob" Benjamin Kee on May 8, 1949, in Great Bend, Kansas. In 1952, his family moved to the family ranch in Quinlan, Oklahoma where, along with his two younger brothers, John "Buddy" and Michael, spent their youth fishing, exploring, and playing sports. Jamie attended Quinlan schools through 8th grade and graduated from Mooreland High School in 1967. There he excelled academically and athletically, and most importantly, met Suzanne Swigart, whom he later married in 1970. After practicing law for almost 40 years, Jamie and Suzanne moved back to Mooreland, Oklahoma in "retirement" to be nearer to family and spend time on his ranch in Quinlan. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 2pm at Woodward First United Methodist Church.

After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma where he was named top ten freshmen boy and graduated in 1971 with a BS in Economics. This in and of itself was no small feat as Jamie was the first in his family's history to graduate from college. In 1975, he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. While pursuing his law degree, he and Suzanne welcomed their first child, Elizabeth, in June of 1974.

In 1975, Jamie, Suzanne, and Elizabeth moved to Beaver, Oklahoma, where Jamie commenced his legal career with the firm of Leonard, Trippet, Leonard, and Kee, practicing with mentors and colleagues who would become lifelong friends. They added three more daughters to their family while in Beaver-Sara in 1977, Erin in 1981, and Mara in 1984. Many joked that Jamie just kept trying for that son!

One of Jamie's greatest passions was watching his kids and grandkids play sports. He and Suzanne spent hours on the road traveling all over Oklahoma supporting and cheering on his favorite teams. And what a passionate fan he was. One story, illustrating just how passionate Jamie was for kids' sports (and justice) recalls how Jamie, in his cowboy boots, jeans, and a Beaver Duster t-shirt, raced through the state track meet stadium, into the parking lot to capture the rebel who had interrupted one of the races as a prank. Had it been one of his daughters' events, there would have no doubt been an indictment.

Jamie's legacy is felt profoundly by his family. His first generation undergraduate and professional degrees are impressively proceeded by TEN masters or doctoral level degrees earned by his four daughters and four sons-in-law. Modeled and not forced, an inherent drive to glorify God and serve mankind motivated him, and he passed this on to his kids and grandkids.

ALS stole Jamie's ability to walk, talk, breathe, and swallow, but it spared his mind and personality. No longer was he able to feed his cattle or attend his grandkids' events, but thanks to eye gaze technology and social media, he was able to communicate with and impart his wisdom upon his children and grandchildren.

Jamie is preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Kathryn Kee; sister Anne Schneider and husband Bill; brother, Buddy Kee; and brother-in-law Jim Gould. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Ruth Swigart Kee of Mooreland; daughter Elizabeth Parsons and son-in-law Thad of Mooreland; daughter Sara Metcalf and son-in-law Clint of Stillwater; daughter Erin Kirksey and son-in-law Richard of Mooreland; daughter Mara Funk and son-in-law Justin of Enid; ten grandchildren, Hutton Parsons, Ethan Parsons, Avery Metcalf, Keeton Metcalf, Michael Metcalf, Aidan Kirksey, Mikala Kirksey, Carson Funk, Finley Funk, and Connor Funk; brother Michael Kee and wife Vicky of Quinlan; sister Carita Gould of Rockport, Texas; brother-in-law Larry Swigart of Woodard; brother-in-law Ronnie Swigart of Mooreland; numerous nephews and nieces; close friends and family; caregivers; and hospice nurses.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Team Gleason Foundation, the Mooreland Public Schools Education Foundation, or the Beaver Educational Support Team.