Michael Lenoir McGehee

Michael Lenoir McGehee died January 6, 2023 at the age of 63 in Quitman, Ark.  Mike was born on July 10, 1959, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the youngest child of Robert Edwin and Joreen Roselle McGehee.  Mike had a wonderful childhood growing up in Pine Bluff.  He loved the outdoors and music.  He spent many days camping and water skiing with family at Lake Ouachita, vacations out west snow skiing, and countless trips to the gulf coast.  He played piano early and later in life taught himself guitar and played and sang regularly.  He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1977 and attended Ouachita Baptist for a year, after which he joined the US Navy. During boot camp, he served on the Drill Team at the Great Lakes Recruit Training Center.  He then served two years at Naval Base San Diego aboard the USS Prairie (AD-15), which was the longest serving ship in the US Navy other than the USS Constitution.  His duty included a Western Pacific Tour.  After the Navy, Mike became a certified automotive technician and was employed in several central Arkansas businesses until his health no longer enabled him to continue.  During the past several years, he became increasingly frustrated with his failing health, but refused to make it a burden on anyone else and he never lost his loving spirit or caring heart.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his son, Michael L. McGehee, Jr, of Conway, and two daughters, April Michelle McGehee, and Connie Lynn Ward (Michael), both of DeQueen; brother, Robert E. McGehee Jr (Kay) of Little Rock, and sister, Michele McGehee Stelter, of Barhamsville, VA; niece, Erika Michele Reynolds, nephews, Robert E McGehee III, and Herbert Jay Stelter Jr, and grandchildren, Shalice and Angalice Austin, and Colten and Shawn Ward.

His family would like to formally acknowledge their heartfelt expressions of gratitude to his social workers, Melissa O’Dell and previously, Scott Russell, with the VA MHICM program; and to the VA Community Residential Care staff members, Karlesha Haywood, Marquita McField, and Kyle Webb.  Many thanks go as well to Corie and JJ Brock at Pine Mountain Veterans Home who took such great care of him during his last few months.  A special thanks also to his Integrity friends, Jennifer Covey, Sue Ellis and Brian Silva.  There is a very special place in heaven for the amazing caregivers who give their heart and soul in taking care of our veterans. 

Funeral arrangements are through Simply Cremation Care, Kensett, Ark.  A graveside service will be held at a later time at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.  The family requests that memorials be made to: Pine Mountain Veterans Home, Attn: Corie Brock, 1089 Bivens Road East, Quitman, AR 72131.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Lenoir McGehee, please visit our floral store.