Billy Ray McGee, age 92, a resident of Churchill Place in Glen Ellyn, IL, and a longtime resident of Wheaton, IL, passed away December 14, 2023. He was born March 20, 1931, in Rockingham, NC to William McGee and Claudia Ballard.

Ray was raised in Rockingham, NC where he worked on the family cotton farm, raised pigs, chickens and cows, and kept the equipment running. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 in Heidelberg, Germany where he was a truck driver for all the Officers. He then moved to Wheaton, IL and became one of the best mechanics around, worked at and then owned the Texaco Gas Station in downtown Wheaton and then moved on to become the head mechanic for the Wheaton Park District, where he retired in 1995. Ray loved to bowl and was in a bowling league at Wheaton Bowl where he met his future wife, Dolores. They married in 1959 and lived in Wheaton until their deaths.

He and Dolores liked to travel around the states in their camper visiting family and friends. Ray really loved his beloved dogs: Shasta, Ginger and Sadie. He also enjoyed being outdoors or woodworking, he would make cradles, rocking horses and toy chests for his grandchildren. He loved tinkering with anything, especially if it was broken. But most of all, he LOVED his coffee!

He is survived by his children Raelene McGee, Lynda (David) Opl and Cheryl (Otis) Dempsey; grandchildren, Ashley Nubie, Mitchell Nubie, Linsey (Kevin) Hume, Bradley (Nikki) Opl, Wayne (Amy) Reed; great-grandchildren, Alina, Wyatt, Alyssa, Hailey, Zoie and Juliet; great-great-grandchildren, Declan, Leedy, Kinsley and Lilah; his brother, Harold "Tee" (Judy) McGee; his brothers-in-law Ade Kunzelman and Jack Smith; and many, many wonderful nieces, nephews & cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores, his son Kenneth McClinsey, his two sisters, Ann Kunzelman and Margaret Smith, and his parents William and Claudia McGee.

A memorial service in celebration of Ray's life will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, Wheaton, where military honors will be held at 7:00 p.m.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com .  For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.