Judge Tom McGee: Rest in Peace

[Teresa]

South Walton local Thomas McGee passed away this week. A wonderful man who has contributed much to our community in so many ways over the years. Writer. Artist. Story teller. Active community member. Friend to many. He will be missed by many. He has written stories for SoWal.com. Our condolences to his wife Karen McGee.

You can read years of stories and see photos from his life of travel and experiences on his blog: Justice or Mercy | A spicy gumbo of tales

South Walton Fire District made this announcement about Tom who served as Fire Commissioner...

SWFD Fire Commissioner Judge Tom McGee

It is with deep sympathy that we announce the passing of South Walton Fire District Fire Board Commissioner Judge Tom McGee. Judge McGee passed away last evening at Sacred Heart Hospital with his family by his side. He was 84 years old.

Judge McGee has faithfully served the South Walton Fire District and our community for many years and has been an avid supporter of the SWFD. Judge Mc Gee served as the Seat 2 SWFD Fire Board Commissioner from May 2014 – September 2018.

The “Judge” as he was affectionately known to many, proudly served on active duty and in the Army Reserve as a Military Police Officer, Military Intelligence Officer and a JAG Officer. He also served 24 years as Assistant District Attorney in Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana before making South Walton his permanent residence.

While here in South Walton, the Judge was very active in serving on civic and county groups and committees such as the Walton County Planning Commission, the TDC Beach Safety Committee and Beach Activities Committee, the South Walton Community Council, and The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.

The Judge is the co-founder and President of The Camel Club, Inc. and a member of the Children's Advocacy Center of Walton County Advisory Board.

May the fond memories of Judge Tom McGee bring comfort to his family and all those that knew him.

On behalf of all the men and women of SWFD, we send our most sincere condolences to his wife Karen and their family.

The Judge was an honorable and kind individual and will be sorely missed by all.

 

[Kurt]

Always loved being around Tom - full of fun stories and very kind. He will be missed by the community he loved.

 

[Teresa]

Posted to Tom's Facebook page Saturday Sept 8

Memorial Service Oct 7 at 2pm at a The Camel Club

Tom McGee was born and raised in North Louisiana until he was nine years old, when his dad obtained employment in the shipyards of New Orleans during the second World War. Tom quickly adapted to the zany culture of The City That Care Forgot. Tom’s parents were George Oden McGee and Margaret Genevieve Fox McGee.

Tom graduated from Tulane Law School in 1956. After his obligatory stint in the Army as a Second Lieutenant he went to work in the oil fields of Eastern Venezuela to pay off his law school debt.

He became an Assistant District Attorney in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana--a suburb of New Orleans--in 1964 and pursued that career and the private practice of civil cases until his election to the bench in 1974. Judge McGee was fortunate enough to be elected to the Juvenile Bench in Jefferson Parish in the first Primary and remained sitting unopposed on the Juvenile and District Court Benches of Jefferson Parish for the next twenty-four years. Upon his retirement in 1997, he moved to South Walton County, where he and wife Karen built a house one good golf shot back from the Gulf of Mexico.

Tom McGee was currently the Fire District Commissioner for District 2, SWFD. He also spent time on the Walton County Planning Commission, TDC Beach Safety Committee, TDC Beach Activities Committee, South Walton Community Council, Cultural Arts Alliance, the Advisory Board of the Children's Advocacy Center of Walton County and the Customary Use Committee. Tom McGee was the co-founder and President of The Camel Club, Inc., a place where folks who suffer alcohol and drug addictions can get into and stay in recovery.

Tom McGee is survived by his wife, Karen Shanholtz McGee, son Sean McGee and daughter Paige McGee Farley, grandsons Patrick McGee, Jackson McGee, Charles Farley and Nathan Farley.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 7, 2018, at The Camel Club on East Hewitt Road, Santa Rosa Beach.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to The Camel Club, 249 East Hewitt Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.

 

[Bob Wells]

Condolences

 

[Teresa]

Memorial Service for Tom McGee will be Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 pm at the Camel Club, 249 E. Hewitt Rd., Santa Rosa Beach. No suits, no ties, no black clothing please.