Charles V. "Cork" McKee Sr., 76, of Butler died Monday at the Butler Memorial Hospital. He had lived in Fenelton for 47 years.

Born April 3, 1929, in Sagamore, he was a son of James Calvin and Frances Jane Pelton McKee.

He was a 1947 graduate of Shannock Valley High School. He had worked for the Western Auto Supply Co. for 20 years; and from 1973 to 1984, he owned and operated a Western Auto Associate Store in East Brady.

Mr. McKee was a member of St. John Roman Catholic Church in Coylesville, the VFW Post 6555 in Sagamore, the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society and the AARP. He was past president of the Sagamore Reunion Committee and also was a past tax collector for Clearfield Township in Butler County.

He was an avid collector, owned several antique automobiles and was a historian and genealogist especially in Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties. He also had published and assisted with several books concerning local history.

He was a devoted family man and enjoyed attending his grandchildren's activities.

He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War.

Surviving are his wife, Jane Lea Coyle McKee, whom he married Nov. 22, 1952; three daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Deborah) Brown of West Sunbury, Ms. Nancy McKee of Butler and Mary Armstrong of Belgrade, Serbia; a son, Charles V. McKee Jr. and his wife, Paula K., of Butler; and two grandchildren, Colin and Marisa McKee, both of Butler. A sister-in-law, Lucille McKee, also survives.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Alice, Mary, Betty and Jean; four brothers, William, Ted, John and Jim; and a grandson, Eric S. Brown.

McKEE - Friends of Charles V. "Cork" McKee, who died, Monday, Oct. 17, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John Roman Catholic Church, 668 S. Clearfield Road, Fenelton. The Rev. Louis Pascazi will officiate. Burial will follow at St. John Parish Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the New Castle Masonic Learning Center, 110 E. Lincoln Ave., New Castle, PA 16101.Please visit the funeral home Web site at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.