Richard "Dick" Mcatee

RICHARD "DICK" McATEE IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Richard Everett “Dick” McAtee, 76, of Idaho Falls, died December 16, 2005, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. He was born December 14, 1929, in Springfield, Missouri, to Esther Rippey McAtee and Eslie McAtee. He spent most of his childhood in Ellis, Kansas. He graduated from Ellis High School in 1948. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army, where he spent most of his enlistment in Stuttgart, Germany, during the American Occupation after World War II. He was discharged in 1950. He married Wanda Joyce “Jo” Houston on January 20, 1952, in Wakeeney, Kansas. He worked for a seismograph company until 1957, when he started college. He attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas where he received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1962. While in college, he was a police officer for the Ellis Police Department, as well as working part time for U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Performance Reporter. Upon graduation, he and his wife moved their family to Moscow, Idaho, where he attended graduate school. He received an M.S. in Physical Organic Chemistry in 1964. After graduation, the family moved to Idaho Falls so he could work for the Idaho National Laboratory. He retired from the INL in 1996 after working on a wide variety of programs. During his lifetime, he worked with the Boy Scouts and was also a supporter of Girl Scouts. He also tutored local junior high students in math and science. At the INL, he served as a mentor for several years for the Associate Western University program. He served on the Board of Directors for CART Transportation. He is survived by his three daughters: Peggy Fitch of Gladstone, Missouri; Diana Potter of Pocatello, Idaho; and Nancy McAtee of Reston, Virginia; three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two sisters and a brother. His wife, Jo, an infant daughter, Pamela, his twin brother, two sisters and his parents, preceded him in death. Memorial Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 22, 2005, at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge). The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday for one hour prior to the services, both at Wood Funeral Home. Burial will follow at a later date in Ellis, Kansas. The family suggests donations be made in remembrance to Fort Hays Sate University Department of Chemistry or the Idaho Falls Food Bank.