Scott Bradley McKee

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Scott Bradley McKee. Though our hearts are heavy, we have a confident hope: Scott won his long-fought battle against cancer and now stands victorious, strong and whole, in the presence of Jesus, his Savior. Scott passed on peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandson. He was 60 years old. Scott had a way of filling a room with laughter, often using humor to bring lightness and connection to everyday moments. The love and awe he had for Jesus was beautifully reflected in the way he loved his family and his church family. He was also a man of deep faith, whose life was shaped by his love for Christ and his desire to help others know Him. He cared deeply about people and had a gift for meeting them where they were, offering encouragement, wisdom, and hope. He loved the Church and poured his heart into it. Scott was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Ken, a GM Autoworker, and Lee McKee. The family lived in Warren, Michigan. Scott told stories of a happy childhood with family camping trips, travel, and playing with the neighborhood kids and his twin sister, Sheila. Scott encountered Jesus for the first time at a local VBS down the street from the family home at Warren Missionary Church. He showed aptitude in his lifelong ministry calling, preaching at the age of 16 in his church and providing leadership in his youth group. In high school, he also enjoyed taking part in the theatre, choirs, and barbershop quartet. When he was 19, he was chosen to spend a year travelling with Up with People, an international organization promoting unity, positivity, and community service. He even had the opportunity to perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl XX! Scott had fond memories of his summer in Hollywood, where he performed in a professional children's travelling theatre show. In fact, he briefly (and fairly seriously) considered a professional acting career. Throughout college, he performed stand-up comedy in various venues and spoke at large youth assemblies to promote drug prevention, weaving his winsome humor, personal faith, and positivity to motivate and inspire the next generation. When Scott returned from his adventures, he settled into studies at Wayne State University, where he majored in Communications with a view towards entering law school. It was at Wayne State that, as Scott liked to say, “This downtown Warren dude landed his uptown Grosse Pointe girl.” Scott and Angie married in 1992. Upon graduation, Scott, who had been working part-time as the youth director at Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills, decided to take a year before law school to do something “completely different” and accepted a full-time position at the Kirk as the youth director. It was during this year that he realized ministry was not just a temporary detour; it was a lifelong calling. Always exceptionally bright, Scott was awarded a full scholarship to Princeton Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. He was popular and well-liked by his classmates and professors alike. During seminary years, he was invited to speak at the seminary chapel, and in the evenings and on weekends he performed stand-up comedy and provided occasional pulpit supply. At graduation, he was recognized with the Arthur Paul Rech Memorial Award in Theology and Pastoral Ministry: His gentle humility, outstanding communication skills, and passion for God's people—specifically the local church—was commended by the president of the seminary. Scott accepted his first call in Princeton to Princeton Alliance Church, where he served in Youth and Family Ministry. It was during this chapter that he and his wife Angie welcomed their son Duncan. Scott was a proud and devoted young father, and he loved making up funny songs to sing to all his children—which are still sung around his family to this day! When Scott was ordained by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1996, he, Angie, and Duncan packed up and moved to suburban London, England, where Scott would serve as the associate pastor of International Community Church in Cobham, Surrey. While living in England, Scott had many opportunities to travel, including his first visit to the Holy Land. His second son, Connor, was also born while the family was living in the U.K. Scott and the family returned to the United States when Scott was invited to be part of the very selective Beeson Doctor of Ministry Program at Asbury Theological Seminary. It was a formative year: The small group of pastor-students visited large churches worldwide, engaged in intensive study, and learned from the top church leaders of the time. At Beeson, Scott once again stood out for his giftedness, and he was well loved and admired by his classmates. He was bright and talented but never boastful. It was so important to Scott to collaborate and learn from one another. Of his Beeson classmates, he often said, “Iron sharpens iron.” He was humbled and proud to be learning alongside such fine church leaders! He received his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree from Asbury in 2001. After his time at Asbury, Scott transferred his ordination to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) when he accepted the position of Senior Pastor at Mt. Pleasant Community Church. Under his leadership, the church grew from 200 to over 1000 regular attenders. Yet, he always said MPCC was not a "turn-around church," but rather a "tweak-around church,” as the ministry staff already had so much set in place. He was quick to give credit to others, viewing himself simply as the "final piece" to help lead the church to make a larger community impact. He became a community leader there as well, and he loved tapping into his comedy talents for outreach programs. He was even a "celebrity judge" at the city-wide chili cook-off, alongside the mayor and other city leaders—an honor which bemused and delighted him. The entire city of Mt. Pleasant loved him, and he loved them. He also worked diligently to bring the pastors of all the local churches in Mt. Pleasant together. For Scott, it was about loving and leading people into Jesus Christ’s Church, not just the local church of which he was the pastor. Scott and Angie's daughter, Gracie, was born in Mt. Pleasant. Scott loved to quip, "We collect children wherever we go...which is why we are never moving again!" And in Michigan the family would stay... Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Northville, Michigan, reached out to Scott during the 2009 economic downturn. Initially, they contacted him to "ask for advice and guidance" in their search for a new senior pastor. It was during these discussions that Scott began to feel that perhaps God was calling him to be the next senior pastor at Ward. He told his wife, Angie, "I think I have one more church in me.” And so, the family moved to Ward Church, where Dr. Scott McKee was installed as Senior Pastor in 2010. The early days were a period of healing and renewal, and Scott led with his gentle humility, his collaborative leadership approach, and his love for God's people, the Church. In his years at Ward, he continued in his passion for community collaboration, intergenerational worship, loving God and serving others, and creating a church community with open doors, leading others to live and love like Jesus. He won the hearts of the worshippers at Ward, and he loved the people of the Ward Community truly, as his own family. Those who knew Scott will remember his steady presence, his genuine kindness, and the joy he carried into every space. He lived his faith not just in what he said but in how he loved, led, and showed up for others each day. Scott was a devoted husband to Angie; a loving father to Duncan (Kristin), Connor, and Gracie; and a proud grandfather to Aiden. The family loved camping adventures in their travel trailer, summer barbecues and campfires, big family breakfasts and travel adventures. His faithful provision and sage advice were a steady rock and anchor for his family. He was especially proud of the many pastors and ministry leaders he had the opportunity to mentor and serve alongside over the years. Scott’s life leaves a lasting impact on his family, his church, and the many lives he touched along the way. Scott is preceded in death by his father, Ken, and his mother, Lanora. He is survived by his wife, Angie; his children, Duncan (Kristin), Connor, and Gracie; his brother, Glenn (Sandi) McKee, and his sisters, Patty (Rob) MacLeod and Sheila (Bob) Lyne; his grandson, Aiden McKee; many beloved nieces and nephews; and a host of lifelong friends who were part of his extended “family.” Even in our grief, we hold onto the hope he believed in so deeply—that through Jesus, death is not the end. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). He will be deeply missed and forever loved. Visitation will be held on Friday April 3, 2026 from 3 PM to 7 PM at Ward Church, 40000 Six Mile Road, Northville, MI 48168. Funeral service will be held on Saturday April 4, 2026 at 10 AM at Ward Church, 40000 Six Mile Road, Northville, MI 48168. In lieu of flowers or meals, the family invites you to consider honoring Scott’s legacy through a gift to the Mckee Family Education Fund. Scott lived a life marked by faith, service, and a deep love for his family. In honor of his legacy and the lasting impact he made on so many, the family has established a private scholarship fund to support the education of his grandchildren. If you would like to celebrate Scott’s life and legacy in this meaningful way, gifts may be made payable to Angie McKee. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Scott Bradley McKee

January 15, 1966 - March 26, 2026