Ocella McGaugh
Visitation will be held at White-Ranson Funeral Home Thursday from noon-1:45 p.m., with the funeral service at Mount Zion United Methodist Church following at 2.
Memorial donations may be made to Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 5576 Mount Zion Road, Union City, TN 38261.
She was born to James B. and Jo McGehee of Fulton County, Ky., Dec. 24, 1916. In 1954, she and her husband, Joe McGaugh, moved to the McGehee family farm where she had grown up, and she lived there for the next five decades. Her family and friends of all ages adored her because she was a gracious lady, filled with love and kindness, with a real zest for life.
Ocella, affectionately know as “Ocie,” a name given to her by her first great-grandchild and quickly adopted by family and friends, was a member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church her entire life. She was actively involved in numerous charitable and community organizations. She loved learning something new and enjoyed travel.
Ocie was an avid University of Kentucky basketball fan. No one dared schedule any event that might conflict with one of UK’s televised games. For 50 years, her extended family of 40-plus traveled home to celebrate each birthday and Christmas. She was always an honored guest at every major holiday and family weddings, where she was generally the last to leave the dance floor.
She loved to play games of any kind, which made her a favorite with all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.She particularly enjoyed bridge, though later in life one of the highlights of her week was the trip to Hickman to play cards with the Wednesday Canasta group.
She was a gifted seamstress, creating beautiful needlework pieces and articles of clothing, window treatments and bedding. A wonderful cook, Ocie’s chocolate chip cookies rivaled anything on the market, Mrs. Fields’ included.
Ocella was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Joseph W. McGaugh; her parents, Jim and Jo McGehee; her beloved great-granddaughter, Hannah Flanery; her daughter-in-law, Martha Ann McGaugh; and her brother, Billy McGehee.
Survivors include her four children and their spouses, Ruth and Jim King, Joe and Jerry McGaugh, Shirlee Clark-Barber and Don Barber and Don and Caroline McGaugh; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Elizabeth Roberts.
All who knew her will miss her deeply and forever remember her radiant smile, her sparkling blue eyes and her ability to make everyone feel really special.
Online condolences may be left for the family at http://www.white-ranson.com.