Our beloved Mervin was given the gift of life on November 7, 1930 in Coy, AR to George and Treba Cooksey McBee. On August 27, 2021 while at home with his family he answered his "last alarm'' and was asked to give that life back at the ripe age of 90. Upon hearing his name called he received an offer he couldn't refuse. An offer  with a huge sign on bonus that included a reunion of family and friends he has not seen in a very long time. Oh the stories and laughter they will share.

Mervin served his country by joining the United States Navy at the age of 19 serving as a medic in the Korean War and later served in the Army National Guard of Arkansas.  After completing his duty he went on to become a fireman for the Little Rock Fire Department and finally after 29 1/2 years he decided it made more sense to run away from a burning building rather than running into them so he promptly retired to a life of tending the garden, milking goats, and watching as many John Wayne movies as possible. However, old habits die hard and in between  his old westerns and taking care of the animals he found his way down to Crow's station fire department where he volunteered his time and wealth of fire knowledge with anyone willing to learn.

Throughout the years, Merv, as he was more commonly known, played a different role in each of our lives. He was a son, husband, father and grandfather. He was a mentor to the children he coached over the years as well as  the neighborhood kids that any of his own children saw fit to bring home. He touched many lives across multiple generations. We were blessed to have known him and to have learned the valuable lessons he taught us without even trying. He helped us learn from our mistakes and let us know that no matter what we had done he would always be there for us. Merv had a gift of making everyone feel like family, was always a source of positivity, and friends described Merv as nothing but kind, loving, caring, warm, awesome and wonderful. But really he will be missed more than words can say. Family meant the world to him; especially his grandchildren. He always took the time to help them whether it was learning to swim at the lake or had them riding on the four-wheeler.

He loved the outdoors whether he was camping and fishing on lake Ouachita, deer hunting in Gurdon or riding the four-wheeler to a neighbor's house to make his rounds, more than once Kathryn had no clue where he was.  He was always the first one to lend a helping hand no matter the job and always with a smile. On many occasions you could find him outside tinkering on a lawnmower or the tractor and more often than not had parts left over when he was done. He always made sure that  a pouch of Levi Garrett or Redman were close at hand and that the deer got fed every evening. If the truth was known he fed far more deer than he ever killed.

Merv was preceded in death by his parents, first wife and mother of his four children Carolyn Burgess McBee, Merv and Carolyn also had two infant sons and an infant daughter that did not survive,  son-in-law Eddie Duck, and grandson Christopher Duck. He is survived by his wife and hunting partner of 43 years Kathryn(Kat) McBee, son Dee McBee(Debbie) of Jackson, Michigan; daughters Debbie Duck and Susan Wiermaa (Richard) of North Little Rock, AR; Gena Lytle(Jeff) of Bauxite, AR; Susan Patterson(Preston) of Bismarck, AR. Eight grandchildren--Kimberly Sexton, David Sexton, Justin Newcomb(Heather), Kaycie Newcomb, Tim Lytle (Raye), Kenneth McBee, Dee McBee Jr, Diamond McBee, and the newest addition to the family, great grandson Callan Newcomb. A sister-in-law, Flora Branch and one cousin, Billy Ann Stolz and her daughter Donna Stolz along with many nieces and nephews who loved him greatly and will remember him with laughter in their heart.

He was not just a good man, or even just a great man. He was an exceptional man. A man with a heart and soul bigger than the heavens, a smile to light up the darkest of days. We love you BIG.

He is now (Forever 29)

Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all.

If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all.

Burial will be at Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas.