Diane Covington McKee

Diane Covington McKee, 64, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Diane had many passions, but family was always first and foremost in her heart and mind. At the young age of 22, she met Donald McKee, in Port Arthur and, after a mere two months of dating, the two were married. Over their 41 years of marriage, Diane and Don enjoyed many adventures together, including favorite trips to Yosemite National Park, Alaska, and countless cruises. But their biggest shared adventure was raising their three children, Summer, Patricia, and Brandon. Their home was never short of love and laughter, and Diane was the matriarch that always brought the family together.

Diane was known by all for her hospitality and warmth, her delicious pies and cookies, her love of Christmas, and her passion for quilting. She was the type of Mom who made matching dresses for the girls when they were young, and even sewed Summer’s prom gown. Her baskets of Christmas cookies were legendary, and open any closet in her house and you were certain to find a stash of Christmas decorations just waiting to be unleashed. She loved to host Thanksgiving dinners for her brothers and sister and their families and would often make the 5 ½ hour trek from Corpus Christi, where she and Don lived for 35 years, to the Port Arthur area for family gatherings. Any baby born into her tribe was certain to receive a handmade quilt along with endless kisses. She truly believed that a quilt would not just warm the body, but comfort the soul, and you could feel the love she put into each and every stich.

Beyond this, Diane was a woman of endless faith, and it was this steadfast conviction which gave her solace when she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Diane’s fortitude and courage in the face of this horrendous disease cannot be overstated. She was a champion to the very end, quick to laugh even when she could hardly breathe, and endlessly saying “I love you” with her eyes when she was no longer able to speak. While her time with us was much, much too short, Diane leaves behind a legacy of love. She is already tremendously missed, but we are eternally grateful that we had her for the time that we did, and for the countless memories of times together etched in our hearts.

Those left to cherish Diane include her loving husband, Don McKee; her daughters, Summer McKee and wife, Steph Batten, and Patricia Benton and husband, Jeremy Benton; son, Brandon McKee; granddaughter, Kerry Carpenter; and grandson, Jonah Batten McKee, as well as her brothers, Aaron Covington, Marc Covington and wife, Denise Covington, Roger Covington and wife, Dana Covington; and her “baby” sister, Lauri Grantham and husband, Gary Grantham. Diane loved spending time with her countless nieces, nephews, cousins and grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom were always welcome in her home and at her table.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Samuel Louis Covington and Marga Hoelscher Covington.

A gathering of Diane’s family and friends will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 1, 2023, at First Church of God, 3800 Jimmy Johnson Blvd in Port Arthur, Texas. Her mortal remains will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in support of Houston Methodist Hospital’s ALS Research Program. Checks can be mailed c/o Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, Texas 77210-4384.