Samuel (Sam) A. McKee, 54, died unexpectedly from stroke complications Wednesday (March 8) in the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. McKee was born March 24, 1962, in Mount Pleasant, MI, the son of Alton E. and Donna J. (Viola) McKee and was raised in Linden, MI. He married Christine M. Wilson April 29, 1988, in Smiths Creek, MI.

Sam grew up on a farm where he trained and raced horses with his father and grandfather. He was calling races at county fairs by age 14 and in 2012 he was inducted into harness racing’s Communicators Hall of Fame. His immense passion for the harness racing industry goes unmatched to the love of his family. Sam enjoyed nothing more than spending time on their small Blairstown, NJ farm, riding and caring for the horses.

He is preceded in death by his mother and survived by his wife; three daughters Meagan, Melissa and Lindsey; sister Sally; father Alton and step-mother Theresa.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 12 at the Newbaker Funeral Home in Blairstown, NJ, from 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A service will be held Monday, March 13 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard, also in Blairstown, at noon.
Memorials may be made to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, 16575 Carey Road, Westfield, IN 46074 or the American Heart and Stroke Association at donatenow.heart.org.