CONWAY, Ark. — Eugene M. "Buck" McAtee, 92, of Conway, Ark., formerly of Parsons, died at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in Conway.

He was born Aug. 15, 1919, in St. Paul to Charles Ernest and Sara Irene (Poisette) McAtee. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1937.

On March 18, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. 2nd Cavalry and received the Purple Heart for his bravery in World War II as a second lieutenant battlefield commissioned officer.

He married Martha Brewer on Feb. 2, 1947, at St. Patrick's Rectory in Parsons. They lived in Parsons all their lives. He owned and operated McAtee Retail Liquor Store located at 118 N. Central from 1949 to 1973 before becoming a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, from which he retired in 1995. He played on the Ban Johnson minor league baseball team in 1939 and later played baseball while enlisted in the Cavalry. He coached the St. Pat's girls softball team for many years and enjoyed bowling and raising brittany puppies. He was also an avid hunter and golfer.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 527, Brown Bishop Post No. 407, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons and the Katy Parsons Golf Club.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Anne Sullivan of Conway, Ark., Bob McAtee and his wife, Karen, of Kansas City, Mo., Jim McAtee and his wife, Diane, of Baldwin City, Marty Lafontaine and her husband, Charlie, of Berthoud, Colo., and Mary Kay McAtee of Parsons; 13 grandchildren, Brian Williams, Jessica Keal, Jay McAtee, Tennille McAtee, Matthieu Lafontaine, Lauren Lafontaine, Tammy Padgett, Belinda Cornell, Teresa Zabokrtsky, Brad Sullivan, David Ozburn, JoAnn Anderson and Paul Ozburn; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mildred Maupin, Mary Ann Miller and Sis Eldridge; and a brother, Howard "Mac" McAtee.

A celebration of life service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The rosary will be prayed at 9 a.m. Friday at the church before the Mass. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Parsons Good Samaritan Society for their garden project, St. Patrick’s Catholic School Endowment Fund or the Katy Parsons Golf Club. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.