Jack Mathew Magee, former owner of the Oxford Barbershop from the early 1970s to 2002, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2003. He was 62.
‘He was a good guy and a good friend. The best guy in the world,? said Wayne Johnston, fellow barber and owner of the Backstreet Barbershop. ‘I never heard one bad word about the guy.?
Johnston worked with Magee at the Oxford Barbershop from 1990 through 2002, but knew the deceased since the mid-1970s.
‘He had a good following of customers. He was always very busy all the time, from open to close,? Johnston said.
Johnston recalled that customers appreciated his ‘politeness? and sense of humor.
‘He always kidded everybody,? he said. ‘People just liked him.?
Martha Ball, of Rochester, was Magee’s companion for 16 years and described him as a ‘caring man, great listener and a great teacher.?
‘He’ll be missed by a lot of people,? she said.
Ball said Magee was a ‘home town kind of guy? who ‘loved Oxford,? his home since the 6th grade.
Of being barber, she said Magee loved his job, especially talking with people and ‘finding out what was going on around town.?
Another favorite aspect of his job was cutting kids? hair.
‘He loved children and was very good at dealing with (and calming) scared little boys? there for their first haircut, she said.
According to Ball, Magee was a passionate man who ‘loved to laugh? and ‘loved life.?
‘Everything he did, he did 200 percent,? she said.
Being a very health conscious, fit and athletic man ? who rarely drank, didn’t smoke and ate healthy foods ? Magee was very active and enjoyed physical hobbies such as golf and skiing.
Friends said from the time the snow melted until the time it fell again you could find Magee on the golf course. But as soon as the winter came, it was time to hit the slopes, be they in Michigan, Utah or out east. Magee skiied all over the country.
Bob Hubbard, friend and manager of Oxford Hills, recalled Magee often ran backwards on the course while his friends rode in the cart.
‘He was just full of energy,? Ball said.
Friend Bob Kessler, of Caseville, said he lived with Magee for 1? years and every morning Magee would either run or hit golf balls before breakfast and then go to work all day.
Kessler described Magee as the ‘life of the party? with an energy and impulsiveness that infected those around him.
‘When I was down, he’d pick me up,? Kessler said. ‘He was never depressed.?
Kessler recalled that after he bought a sailboat, Magee suggested to him they drop everything and sail around the world.
‘He was dead serious,? Kessler said. ‘He was ready to sell the (barber) shop and go do it.?
What made Magee’s idea even more out of the ordinary was the fact that he was ‘not a water person,? Kessler said.
‘He didn’t know how to swim,? Kessler said. ‘It was totally out of character for him, but he would have done it.?
Aside from being a fun guy with a zest for life, Magee was also a man of great character.
‘He was honest to a fault,? Hubbard said. ‘He had a lot of integrity.?
Hubbard also noted that Magee was an ‘insightful person? whose ‘mind was always busy.?
‘He was always thinking of different ways to do things, coming up with new ideas,? Hubbard said. ‘Every morning he’d meet me at the course. We’d have coffee and talk and he would give me advice.?
Magee is survived by his mother Harriett Mayo of Sun City West, Arizona; sisters Edith (Edie) Barringer of Sun City West, Arizona and Audrey (Roy) Vasher of Lexington, Kentucky; four nieces; and ‘many good friends? whom he ‘treasured.?
He was preceded in death by his brother Royden ‘Chuch? Magee.
A Celebration of Jack Magee’s life took place April 28 at the Bossardet Chapel Lynch and Sons Funeral Home. He was buried at Ottawa Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Heather Pines Adult Foster Care, 5841 Eston Road, Clarkston, Michigan 48348; or HIS Hospice, 24445 Northwestern Highway, Suite 105 Southfield, Michigan 48075; or the Oxford High School Athletic Department
‘He always stood behind the athletes at school,? Kessler noted. ‘He supported the basketball, football and golf teams.?