LORETTA E. GAGE, 79 FREEPORT - Loretta E. Gage, 79, departed this life in her sleep at home on Thursday morning, October 3, 2013. She was born on October 10, 1934 in Quitman, MS, the daughter of Emerson and Susie (Lymon) McGee. She received her formal education at Shirley Owens High School in Quitman, MS and attended Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI. She was united in holy matrimony to her high school sweetheart Willie Harold Gage Sr. on November 20, 1957 in Chicago, IL. To this union seven children were born, Suzette (Mark-deceased) Dumars, Willie Gage Jr., Ronald Gage, Dwayne (Pam) Gage, Cheryl (Ricky) Erving, Alan (Gloria) Gage, and Antoinette Gage. Loretta was employed at Thermos for over 6 years before her employment at Micro Switch in Freeport IL, where she retired after 25 years of service. She loved the Lord very much and was always determined to do his will. For many years Loretta was a faithful and serving member of First Church of God in Freeport, IL, where she praised the Lord with the gift of her beautiful voice as a member of the choir and faithfully served as choir director until her illness. The vision for the descendents of Miles and Sarah McGee's Family Reunion began in the heart of their granddaughter, Loretta Evelyn McGee Gage. Loretta, the last of ten children born to Emerson and Susie McGee, has always had a special place in her heart reserved just for family and she believed that love is what family is really all about. Through her vision and diligence she organized the first McGee Family Reunion and it has continued annually for the past 25 years. Loretta was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will forever be remembered by everyone for her passion for singing, her giving heart, and her wonderful sense of humor. She is predeceased by her parents, one sister, Christine (Broomsy) Salter, five brothers, LeRoy (Rosie Belle) and Alonzo of Quitman, MS; RC (Earnie Mae) of Rockford, IL, Henry (Effie) of Freeport, WM (Magnolia) McGee of Quitman, MS, one son in law Mark Dumars, and one great-grandson Latereise Gage Jr. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Willie; her children, Suzette, Willie Jr., Ronald, Dwayne, Cheryl, Alan, and Antoinette. Thirteen grandchildren Latereise, Aretha, Angel, Alicia, Anton, Shanna, Darius, and Deron Gage, Rachel and Darnell Simmons, Stacy (Gary) Shorter, Gwendolyn Simpson, and Courtney Alexander, eighteen great-grandchildren, one sister Earnestine (Merle) Norman; two brothers, Frank (Arnetta) McGee and Milton McGee of Freeport, IL; a host of other caring and loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the entire First Church of God family. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 12, 2013 at First Church of God in Freeport. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport, and from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial has been established in her memory. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to sign her online guestbook and to share memories.