Obituary for Toy McGee

Toy Rene McGee joined her heavenly Father and family on October 12, 2021, after a long battle with multiple autoimmune diseases. She was 66 years old.

It would be wrong to say that Toy lost her battle because she never stopped fighting. Her love for her family and fighting spirit kept her pushing through the pain – without complaint – and often thanking God for his strength in the fight. Through her, we know what resilience, perseverance and fortitude truly look like.

Toy was born in Snyder, Texas on February 12, 1955. She attended Des Moines East High School where Toy met her high school sweetheart, Larry. A year later, on April 6, 1974, they were married. After Larry graduated college, they lived in Chicago, Illinois for 4½ years (which Larry and Toy both told people was about 4 years too long.) In 1981, they moved to Maple Grove, Minnesota and found their home for life.

Toy was a compassionate spirit who was deeply loved and loved others deeply. Her passion for service led her to co-found and volunteer for St. Vincent de Paul’s Habitat for Humanity initiative and pro-life movement for several years. She had also gone back to school: taking night classes with the plan to become a nurse.

In addition to her love for her neighbors and others, Toy also loved nature. She enjoyed time she would spend by any lake, time fishing, and time watching the Minnesota landscape change colors in the fall, often remarking on the beauty of the red sumac. She especially loved watching her hummingbird feeder, and would delight in watching them fly by.

Most of all, she loved her family fiercely. She attended every band concert, game, school event, and graduation, often being the loudest one cheering. She was always available to offer advice, support and love. Her greatest goal in life was to be a great wife, sister, mother and Nana. We think she far surpassed her goal, and her smile and hugs will be missed. No one will ever love us as much as she did.

Toy is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Larry; her children: Daniel (Heidi), Jeffrey (Angela), and Toy (Robert Hess); her precious grandchildren: Evelyn, Kaitlyn and Finnegan (McGee), Xavier (Hess), Otis (McGee), Jacob, Ethan and Hannah (Snyder). Her siblings: Sherry Murdock, Stewart (Twilla) Smith, Thomas (Charlene) Valletta, and Edward (Christine) Valletta. Her niece: Shanny (Steven) Snyder and nephew, Joe Smith. Toy is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Dorothy Smith.

Services will be held on Friday, October 22 at 10:30am at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, visitation with the family at 9:30am. Following the service, interment will take place at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery in Osseo, Minnesota followed by a luncheon at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations towards Toy’s medical expenses. Donations can be sent to: Dan McGee, 600 1^st Ave NW, Osseo, MN 55369.

A livestream of the service is available the day of the service via the following link: https://vimeo.com/635569029/13ac62c500