Frances K. (Jebb) McKie

Frances Kathleen McKie, known affectionately as Fran, passed away on March 9, 2026, at Seminary Village in Galesburg, Illinois, at the age of 96.

Born on February 5, 1930, in Monmouth, Illinois, to Esther (Palmer) Jebb and Robert M. Jebb, Fran grew up in Monmouth and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1948. She was a member of Nu Phi Mu Sorority, the Monmouth Business and Professional Women’s Club, and served as a Girl Scout leader. During her school years, she worked at Bowman’s Shoe Store and as a secretary in advertising.

In 1949, she married Sergeant Paul R. Powell at the First Lutheran Church in Monmouth. The couple lived in Munich, Germany, where Paul was stationed and where their first two children, Paula Lou and Robert Edward, were born. They later settled on a farm in Bushnell, Illinois, and eventually farmed in Avon and Knoxville, raising crops as well as Black Angus cattle and pigs. Five more children joined the family there: Sandi Kay, Debbie Sue, Nancy Ann, and twins Glen Alan and Donald Dean.

After leaving the farm, Fran moved to Galesburg, attended Carl Sandburg Junior College, and completed secretarial training. She worked for 30 years as executive secretary to Don Fike at St. Mary’s Square Living Center in Galesburg. In 1984, she married Charles H. McKie in Galesburg. Fran was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Knox County Farm Bureau, and the Galesburg Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Past Matron six times as Worthy Matron and represented Illinois as Grand Electa in 2001. She also served as Grand Representative of Ontario from 1997 to 1998 and was past president of the Seminary Estates Homeowners Association.

Fran enjoyed swimming early each morning at the YMCA with friends and teaching exercise classes for Silver Sneakers. She will be remembered for her strong faith, radiant smile, positive outlook, and deep devotion to her family. She instilled in her children the same abiding love of the Lord that guided her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Lois E. Jebb, Robert D. Jebb, and John M. Jebb, her husbands Paul R. Powell and Charles H. McKie, and her children Glen A. Powell, Paula L. (Powell) Strader, Debbie S. (Powell) Page, and Robert E. Powell.

Fran is survived by her children Sandi K. (Mike) Miyaki, Nancy A. (Mark) Hayes, and Donald D. Powell, her daughter-in-law Patt Reck-Powell, and her sons-in-law Carter “Corky” Strader and Geoff Page. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.