Eric B. McKee Jr. and Imogene Hayes McKee passed away January 19, 2015 in Physicians Regional Healthcare System in Naples, Florida. Eric was born November 14, 1921 in West Frankfort to Eric B. McKee Sr. and Estella Anderson McKee. He was married to Imogene Hayes McKee for sixty seven years.  He preceded her in death by seven hours and being a gentleman he held the door open to heaven for her.   He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of West Frankfort. He retired from SIU as the Chief Engineer of the power plant. Previous to that he owned McKee Refrigeration Service. He served in the US Army during WWII. Eric was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. He was 1993 Man of the Year for the Illinois Chapter of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. He was also an active member of the Class of 1939 Reunion Committees. After retirement Eric enjoyed family, friends, and fishing. He spent half of the year in Marco Island, Florida fishing.       Imogene Hayes McKee was born in West Frankfort on July 3, 1923 to Leman and Edna Pearl Hayes.  She married Eric B. McKee Jr  on  April 10, 1947. They had been married for 67 years when she followedhim to heaven. She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of West Frankfort, Illinois and also attended First Baptist Church of Marco Island when she was staying there. In her professional life she worked at the Banterra Bank (formerly Bank of West Frankfort), Bonifield Trucking Company, Jacobs Lane Jewelers, and the Daily American. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. After retiring Imogene and Eric took ballroom dancing lessons and they spent many hours enjoying their new pastime. Imogene loved needlework, traveling, and her family and friends.         Eric and Imogene were true lovebirds.  Everyone who saw them always said “what a cute couple!” Theirs was a love that did not end in death but continued into eternity.  They will be greatly missed by their family and by all their West Frankfort and Marco Island friends.   Imogene Hayes McKee was born in West Frankfort on July 3, 1923 to Leman and Edna Pearl Hayes.  She married Eric B. McKee Jr  on  April 10, 1947. They had been married for 67 years when she followedhim to heaven. She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of West Frankfort, Illinois and also attended First Baptist Church of Marco Island when she was staying there. In her professional life she worked at the Banterra Bank (formerly Bank of West Frankfort), Bonifield Trucking Company, Jacobs Lane Jewelers, and the Daily American. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. After retiring Imogene and Eric took ballroom dancing lessons and they spent many hours enjoying their new pastime. Imogene loved needlework, traveling, and her family and friends.         Eric and Imogene were true lovebirds.  Everyone who saw them always said “what a cute couple!” Theirs was a love that did not end in death but continued into eternity.  They will be greatly missed by their family and by all their West Frankfort and Marco Island friends.      Eric and Imogene are survived by two daughters, Jeri (Tim) Ridenour of Bartlett, Illinois and Joni (Mark) Merideth of Solgohachia, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Eric (Nikki) Merideth, Nicole (Jeremy) Merideth, Samantha (Jeremy) Kling, and Daniel Ridenour.  They had four great grandsons- David Shawn Merideth, Bryan Asher Merideth, Eric Connor Merideth, and Jacob Leon Merideth. Eric leaves behind one sister Helen Wright of Marion, Illinois and Imogene leaves behind her brother, Richard Hayes of Arnold, Missouri.     The loved ones that preceded them are Eric and Estella McKee, Leman and Pearl Hayes, and brothers, Bill McKee and Lincoln Hayes.     Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2015 in the Parker - Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort with Rev. Mike Cash officiating. Visitation will be after 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Denning Cemetery on Orient Road. To sign the guest register visit www.parkerreedyfuneralhome.com.