Barbara Ann Dixon was born at 8:30 AM on June 17, 1931 in the parlour of her Father’s Farmhouse on the Holland/Euphrasia Townline just south of Walter’s Falls Ontario… She was the youngest child of Ernest and Barbara Dixon, and the youngest of six children.

 
Barbara experienced quite a bit of hardship during her upbringing-there wasn’t a lot of money for the extras in life…the old Frame Farmhouse didn’t have indoor plumbing or hydro, so the best was done with oil lanterns, pump water which was heated on a woodstove and an outhouse. Barbara’s Mother sewed young Barbara’s clothes from scratch. While times were tough, Barbara did get to share some comical adventures with her older siblings, including getting her hair caught in fly paper while she was dancing on the dining room table!

Barbara was always artistic by nature, and her father was able to buy her a piano that was in a house that had been left closed up for quite a few years…so she learned how to play the piano, and later on in life received singing lessons.

Barbara attended school at Walter’s Falls until she reached high school age, and then went to high school for her first year at Markdale High School. After she’d gone to Markdale for one year, Barbara’s Uncle Henry and Aunt Margaret invited her to come and live with them in Meaford Ontario, where she finished her High School education at Meaford High School.

Barbara then went to Stratford Normal School where she received an education to become a school teacher.

Barbara’s first teaching position was in a school near Mitchell Ontario.

During her time as a teacher at Mitchell, she met Bill McKee and started a courtship that led to marriage and creation of a home in Goderich Ontario.

Barbara continued to teach at Victoria Public School until 1958 when she and Bill McKee started a family-Their oldest son David was born on January 14, 1959. Their second son Peter was born on April 6, 1961.

Bill and Barbara worked hard to create a happy life with a spiritual side to it. They attended Knox Church where Barbara and Bill sang in the choir. Their boys attended Knox Sunday School.

There were many happy times including lots of boating and holiday trips to Vancouver Island and Cape Breton Island.

Around 1972, Bill and Barbara became interested in furthering their spiritual education and way of living by studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. This was an important step in Barbara’s life as it gave her a deep spiritual foundation to build on. It also helped her to understand the condition of the dead, and gave her a hope for the future as it did for Bill and the rest of the family.

Barbara continued to be interested in the many things that are beautiful in life… She did lots of wonderful gardening, and grew vegetables which were used for food at the family table.

She also painted beautiful pictures and continued to learn new music and sing.

With passing time, Bill came to suffer from dementia, and Barbara had much to do to support him… Bill died on May 28, 2019…

Barbara now found herself on her own, but her many friends from within and without the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to her aid with friendship, and fellowship. Right up until the day she passed away, the members of the congregation supported her mightily.

Barbara passed away quietly at Alexandra Marine & General Hospital in Goderich Ontario at 6 AM, Aug. 11, 2025… She will be greatly missed until that beautiful day in the future when she is resurrected to be with all of us who await her.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday October 18th, 2025 at 2:00pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses,172 Anglesea Street, Goderich Ontario. Donations in Barbara’s memory can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or to The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Canada.

Condolences for the family of “MCKEE: Barbara Ann”

Article printed from Haskett Funeral Homes | Dashwood, Exeter, Goderich, Lucan, & Seaforth Ontario: https://www.haskettfh.com

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