Howard Melvin McKee, 87, of Enumclaw died at home on Sept. 20, 2012.

He was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Bryant Township, S.D. At 13 he left school to help run his parents’ farm after his father suffered a farming accident. He married Eloise H. Phillips Sept. 23, 1946. They moved to Forks, Wash., and then to Enumclaw in 1963. He founded 5M Construction Inc. in 1964, picking up the contract with the phone company to install underground utilities. He retired in 1984. He loved his family, fishing, hunting, woodworking and visiting the Buckley Eagles.

He is survived by sons Neil and wife JoAnn of Stevensville, Mont., Charlie McKee of Enum-claw and Paul and Colleen McKee of Enumclaw; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Eloise, on Sept. 10, 2008.

Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Weeks Funeral Home in Buckley. For service information, contact Weeks’ Funeral Home at 360-829-1171. Burial will be at the Enumclaw cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made in his name to Seattle Can-cer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Avenue, Seattle.

All may visit www.weeksfuneralhomes.com to sign the guest book.