Dr. Earl T. Mcghee

Dr. Earl T. McGhee, 85, of Dalton, Georgia, loving father and dedicated husband, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 23, 2008. He was born March 14, 1923 in Hartselle, Alabama to Richard Taylor McGhee and Mae Finch McGhee of Hartselle, Alabama.
Dr. McGhee attended Loma Linda University (College of Medical Evangelists) in Loma Linda, California where he received his medical degree in 1952. While Earl was in medical school he met his wife to be, Kathryn Holmes. Katie was a young nurse from Minnesota. They courted for about three months and were married on December 21, 1949 in Pasadena, California. They would have dated a little longer but at that time medical students were only allowed to marry during the Christmas holidays or during summer vacation. Not wanting to wait another 6 months they chose to be married during the Christmas holiday. Upon graduating from medical school they moved back to Birmingham, Alabama where Earl attended the University of Alabama, Birmingham for his medical residency. Upon finishing residency Earl and Katie moved to Dalton Georgia, where he set up his medical practice. Dr. McGhee continued his medical practice in Dalton for 35 years until his retirement in April 1987. During that time he was actively involved in the growth and development of Hamilton Medical Center . Dr. McGhee was very interested in the betterment of North Georgia and directed his energy in many civic activities as well local and sate politics.
This included involvement in many organizations. He was as a charter member of the Dalton Kiwanis Club, a member of the Dalton City Council and was a member of the Georgia State Board of Health. He was the North Georgia coordinator for Sam Nunn’s Senatorial campaign run and assisted George T. Smith in his election as lieutenant governor. Dr. McGhee also served on the boards of First National Bank of Dalton (later to become part of Wachovia Bank), Bank of Adairsville and Premier Bank, now part of First Securities Group. Dr. McGhee dedicated many hours to the growth of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Georgia. He was a faithful member of the local church as well as serving on boards of the Georgia Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day Adventist which included the site selection and development of the Cohutta Springs Conference Center. He is survived by his wife Kathryn; daughter and son in law, Cheryl and Ken Rogers of Walla Walla, WA; daughter and son in law, Patty and Bill Coffman of Redlands, CA; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and John Schleier of Dalton, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Steve Fehlenberg of Calhoun, GA and grandchildren, Jeff and Kristy Olson, Jarrod, Travis and Ashley Martin, Jennifer Stout Smith, Trevor Stout, and Mandi and Brooke Fehlenberg. The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home Friday, December 26 from 4 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held at the Dalton Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2 p.m. Saturday December 27. The family ask that flowers please be omitted and memorials be made to, Earl and Katie McGhee Endowed Scholarship Fund, Southern Adventist University. c/o Development Office, P.O. Box 370 Collegedale, Tn. 37315 or Dalton State College Foundation for the Dr. Earl McGhee Kiwanis Scholarship, 213 N. College Dr., Dalton, GA 30720 or to the Dalton Seventh-day Adventist Church Building Fund, 300 S. Tibbs Rd., Dalton, GA. 30720. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com. Love Funeral home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.