Essie Gooch McGee, 88, of Steele, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, at River Oaks Care Center in Steele, Mo.

Born July 17, 1917, in Monnett, Ark., daughter of the late Sylvester Brandon and Eva Elizabeth Davis Brandon, she was a homemaker and a member of the Denton Assembly of God Church.

On July 20, 1938, in Leachville, Ark., she married John Morris Gooch, who preceded her in death. She later married Cecil McGee, on Jan. 12 1963, in Steele, who also preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Clinton Brandon and one sister, Inez Brandon.

Survivors include one son, Olan Gooch and wife, Jackie Sue, of Viola, Ark.; two daughters, Annetta Ridge and husband, Morris, of Steele and Evonne and husband, Gary Deubert, of Woodburn, Ore.; six brothers, Arthaniel Brandon, of Piggott, Ark., Gene Brandon, of Tyler, Texas, Floyd Brandon, of Leachville; Norman and Leon Brandon, both of Gassville, Ark., and Roland Brandon, of Cameron, Okla.; three sisters, Wynetta Dean, of Corning, Ark., Shirley Taylor, of Pangburn, Ark., and Joyce Bost, of Cardwell, Mo.; two grandsons, Erwin Ridge, of Wynne, Ark., and John Ridge, of Paragould, Ark.; one foster granddaughter, Stacy Franklin, of Holland, Mo.; seven great-grandchildren and two foster great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Denton Assembly of God Church with the Revs. Jason Goshorn and Charles Clark officiating.

Burial was in the Pine Hill Cemetery at Jonesboro, Ark.

Powell Funeral Home of Steele was in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were John, Erwin and Tyler Ridge, Josh and Joel Morton and Tracy Franklin.