This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Maureen Mary McGee who was born in Michigan Grand Rapids on December 9, 1959 and passed away on December 26, 2006. You will live forever in our memories and hearts.
Maureen Mary McGee, born December 9, 1959 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, died December 26, 2006, at an airport near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Maureen, as pilot, and flight nurse Diane Efaw, died doing their jobs; they were on their way to an airport in New Jersey to pick up a patient.
I was Maureen' McGee's former partner. She was my first true love that I lived with from December 1986 to August 1991. Her family was awesome as in-laws. I decided to create this website in order to aide in my grieving process.
On December 8, 2006 a day before Maureen's birthday I was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia. I planned on calling Maureen but I was not sure how comfortable my current partner of 14 years would have felt, so I didn't. By December 20, 2006 I was hospitalized for my Hairy Cell Leukemia, an unknown Pneumonia, and Pancytopenia. On December 29 I was awaiting for my chemo to begin and a nurse, Doug came and offered the paper to my current partner, Pat. I was resting and nervous about starting chemo. On the front page was a picture of Maureen and the story of what happened and her obituary. My partner read it to me.
It said she was flying an airplane with a nurse both of them 47 years of age and they were en route to pick up a patient when they had ice build up on the wings. Maureen did a maneuver that you come down and touch the ground and bounce up to shake off the ice but the plane was headed for the terminal and she pulled up in order to miss the terminal. She got to about 3,000 feet when the plane turn nose down and came straight down and crashed. After four hours of burning it was possible to look through wreckage and they found the ice on the wings was four inches thick.
Her Memorial was scheduled for January 2, 2007. On December 31, 2006 I had a tachycardia episode that I almost made me die. On January 2, 2007 about 1 am I was given a blood transfusion one of many because of my pancytopenia. But this time I had already had a fever of 99.1 within seconds my temperature was 103.5 and I passed out. In the morning I couldn't lift my head. My physicians agreed if my temperature went down to 99.1, I could go to Maureen's Memorial Service. Unfortunately my high fever stayed for another day.
I regret not being able to go. I can only really speak of my relationship with her but I need to mention that after we had departed she married her next partner who had two sons and they had a daughter together. Their daughter was ten years old when her Mom died.
Our first kiss was on December 28, 1986 under the moon and next to a pine tree. The first time I laid my eyes on Maureen I was in love. She had a smile that wouldn't quit and eyes that said, "I love you". I felt her love no matter where I was in life. It was reassuring even if she wasn't sure.
I miss how well we worked in the kitchen together how we played with Kashmere Kitty and how we would pretend we just met one another. We would usually do this at the park around block from us. We would sit on hill and do different scenarios each time. One of us would get laughing and one of us would start to roll down the hill still laughing which then made us both laugh.
I regret and miss saying 'Hello' the last two times I saw her. I also regret very much that I did not call her and tell what was going on with me when I was diagnosed with leukemia. It might have made a difference it might not have but nonetheless, I regret it. I also regret not being able to attend Maureen's Memorial Service.
June 29, 2007 we asked her family members and her close friends to gather for a small Memorial Service. Unfortunately her family could not attend.
Maureen was a volunteer for MotorMeals, a pioneer in starting Recycling in Ann Arbor, she was a member of the People's Co-Op, and The Community Garden. She was actively involved with the Ecology Center and biked in every marathon in order to be a fundraiser for the Ecology Center.
Maureen had a Bachelor's in Biology and Agriculture but she decided to become a seamstress. She was excellent at being a seamstress. If you look at the pictures the blue, white and pink jacket with Peg engraved on it was one of her products. She was also an excellent Technical Writer. She was also an excellent pilot.
Maureen's Mom died in May of 1990 her father had passed away when she was 18 years old. She was a middle child with two brothers on both sides of her. My Mom died in July of 1991 and a month later we departed from one another. What I remember most was I was so glad we were departing and still living. I was incredibly glad she was alive in the world. When she passed away all I remembered was how much I loved and still love her.
