Time ticked by too quickly for Scott McKee of Bothell.
He was on the list to get a new heart, but no suitable organ arrived.
There was no growing old with his wife, Jill McKee, by his side.
He had only hours to snuggle his infant, Ella Grace.
He died March 12 at the University of Washington Medical Center only two weeks after the baby the couple tried to conceive for years finally arrived.
Folks know a man is wonderful when his mother-in-law sings his praises: “If there were more men like Scott in the world, there would be less divorce,” said Coni Hoolsema.
McKee was born to Allen and Sherri McKee Nov. 18, 1976, in Fort Ord, Calif. He lived in places around the world — his favorites being Australia and England. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated in 1995 from Alconbury High School in England.
McKee moved to Washington to attend Washington State University and earn a degree in construction management. While at WSU, he played in the marching band at the Rose Bowl in 1998. He graduated from WSU in 2000.
Following graduation, he moved to Western Washington and worked for construction companies before joining Aecon Building in Lynnwood, where he worked for the past five years as an engineer.
In 2004, McKee met the love of his life, Jill Hoolsema, on a blind date set up by a friend. She was a teacher in Bothell. He proposed to her on his birthday that same year.
The couple married on May 28, 2005, in Lynden. They loved to travel, go on road trips, spend time with family and friends, and work on projects around the house.
Her husband wasn’t a jokester, but was great with quips.
“He was quick on his feet and good with comebacks,” his wife said. “He was honest and romantic.”
Scott McKee is survived by his wife; daughter, Ella; parents Allen and Sherri McKee; in-laws Rich and Coni Hoolsema; siblings Danette McKee and Neal McKee and his fiance, Sandra Emmerson; brother-in-law Scott Hoolsema; and grandmothers Earline McKee and Sydney McCrea.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Keith McKee and Floyd McCrea.
Scott McKee loved coaching youth football, barbecuing, reading about history and playing Xbox video games.
Les Martin, a senior project manager with Aecon, worked with McKee many times on out-of-town jobs. Martin said McKee’s crown jewel was designing the Longhouse Market in Sequim.
“He was fun, into technology, with a good attitude,” Martin said. “He really wanted to learn. He was on his way.”
Martin said his friend, who always wore a baseball cap, would have been a great father.
“They had looked at adopting and in vitro,” he said. “Lo and behold, when they got pregnant, it was a small miracle. When he found out he was having a girl, he was ecstatic.”
A year ago, what appeared to be sinus and breathing problems turned out to be heart disease. In October, after many health problems and hospitalizations, he was admitted to the UW hospital and stayed there until his death.
His wife seldom left his hospital room.
Ella Grace was born Feb. 26.
“He got tears when he saw her,” Jill McKee said. “He was so excited.”
They were optimistic, she said, that a heart transplant would come anytime. Please, become an organ donor, she asked everyone.
She saved a letter from her husband to read to Ella someday.
“I promise to teach you, and to learn from you,” Scott McKee wrote. “I will do my best to keep you safe, warm and happy. We will raise you as a Christian and in our house you will know faith, respect, joy, love and what it means to be a great American.”
For the two weeks he knew her, he cuddled with the infant in his hospital bed.
After his daughter was born, McKee quickly went downhill.
“He waited to see Ella,” his wife said.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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