Willie James Magee

A Life Well Lived

OBITUARY

On February 20, 1948, Willie “Dooley” James Magee was born to the late Doss and Laura Magee in Tutwiler, Mississippi. He was the fifth child born into a family of eight siblings.

Willie accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age and was baptized at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Shelby, Mississippi.

Willie received his early education at Shelby Elementary School where he excelled as an honor student. Transitioning to Clarksdale, he attended and graduated from Higgins High School. After receiving a scholarship to a business school, he relocated to Dallas, Texas where he received his certificate of certification in Business.

Desiring to serve his country, he enlisted into the Air Force in 1968 and was stationed at the Air Force Base in Florida where he was promoted to Sergeant E-4 status before returning to Dallas, Texas with an honorable discharge in 1972.

As fate would have it, along his journey, Willie was joined in holy matrimony to Vera Brackens. To this union, two wonderful children were born; Dona Faye Magee and Bryant Magee.

Upon returning to Dallas, Texas, after leaving the Air force, Willie began working at Texas Instruments as a Lab Technician. Willie valued education immensely, aiding in his decision to enroll in a Bachelor’s program in Chemistry at North Texas State University. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry. Once Willie received his degree from NTSU he was promoted to chemist at Texas Instruments. Willie’s career transitioned into another direction once he was laid off from Texas Instruments due to company downsizing. Willie began working for DART as a bus operator

and substituted in the DISD district for many years. With Willie’s love for chemistry, he decided to get back into the field that brought him joy. Willie accepted a job with the City of Dallas as an Air Pollution Control Inspector, where he later retired from. Lastly, before full retirement, Willie was employed at the VA Medical Center.

Willie was a world traveler; he would just pick up and go visit his family and friends in different cities several times throughout the year. He never missed his family or class reunions, and he made every attempt to attend the funerals of his friends and family. In fact, he was on his way to a classmate's funeral at the time of his car accident. Willie lived and loved life to the fullest with no regrets and would have had it no other way.

Willie loved to serve his community and went on to organize the Southeast YMCA Cougars Baseball team. Willie became a father figure to many of these young men and Willie’s bond with these men remains strong.

He was preceded in death by his father (Doss), mother (Laura), brother (L.D.), and sister (Bernice).

He leaves to cherish his memory his former wife, Vera, two children Bryant (Candice) and Dona Faye Magee; (5) grandchildren, Bryson, Morgan, Jasmine, Charles, and Cidney; one great-grandchild Taylor; (5) sisters, Violet (Jannie), Inez, Maggie, Laura, and Josephine; one brother-in-law Joseph; a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.