MILLINOCKET – Mrs. Mabel A. (Doyle) McGee, R.N., passed away Friday, April 1, 2011, at Tall Pines Nursing Facility, Belfast. She died of complications from pneumonia and dementia. Her birth date was Sept. 6, 1916, making her 94 years old at the time of her death. She lived for more than 50 years at 417 Penobscot Ave., Millinocket. Mrs. McGee was the daughter of Rose Selena (King) Doyle and Thomas James Doyle, who also lived at 417 Penobscot Ave., Millinocket. Mabel was born in Frankville, Nova Scotia.

While attending primary school in Canada, she skipped two grades, and later was too young to enter nursing school. Waiting to reach the required admission age, she helped her large extended family in Canada and Massachusetts. She then entered training at St. Martha’s School of Nursing, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where she graduated at the head of her class as a registered nurse. She began work as an operating room nurse on Cape Breton Island, Sydney, Nova Scotia. A medical doctor visiting Sydney, Nova Scotia, informed her that the newly opened Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, was looking for operating room nurses. She applied, was hired and moved to Philadelphia. This would be where she would meet her future husband, Dr. Leonard J. McGee, originally of Bristol, Pa. Dr. McGee entered the U.S. Army and became a battlefield surgeon. Capt. McGee was killed in action and awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Relocating to Millinocket, Mabel was one of two nurses to work at the newly formed Millinocket Hospital. The hospital was located on Maine Avenue and was returned to its original use as a private home. This occurred when funding was completed for the first phase of what is today Millinocket Regional Hospital. Mabel was a nurse for 35 years and retired as director of nursing at Millinocket Community/Regional Hospital. She worked during the transformation of the hospital from a community facility to a regional hospital serving the Greater Katahdin area. She enjoyed many hours visiting with her brothers and sisters and they would play cribbage until all hours of the night. Mabel loved to travel, especially to Europe. In this way, her retirement was a blessing allowing her the time to go where she chose. She had fond memories of attending her son’s wedding in the south of France and spending New Year’s Eve in Paris.

Her parents, as well as three brothers and two sisters predeceased her. She is survived by her son, Terrence J. McGee and her daughter-in-law, Liliane, of Stockton Springs; two granddaughters, Kathryn (McGee) Betoglou of Oxford, Mass., and Vanessa McGee of Los Angeles; her brother, Robert Doyle and his wife, Linda, of Bangor; and her sister, Beverly Gee of Millinocket. Mabel will be missed by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws in the U.S., Canada and France.

At her request, there will be no viewing. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church of Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, 19 Colby St., Millinocket, with the Rev. Joel Cyr, pastor, presider. Spring interment will be at Millinocket Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Mabel may be sent to Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field St., Millinocket, ME 04462. Messages of condolence may be expressed at

www.lamsonfh.com.