Jean McKee, 74, a member of the first elected Board of Governors at Wayne State University, died Sunday, Oct. 24, at Harper Hospital in Detroit.

Born in Detroit just a few miles from Harper and raised in Warren, Gov. McKee received a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1946, and a master's degree in education from Wayne State in 1948.

Originally a teacher, she earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1956.

Following graduation, she moved with her husband, Bill, to Grand Rapids where she practiced law with her husband and resided in Grand Rapids until her death.

A Democrat, she was elected to a six-year term on the first elected WSU Board of Governors in 1959. Serving with five men, she was named chairman of the board in 1959.

Mrs. McKee was the first woman to serve on the board and the first board member from outside the Detroit area.

She served in public positions for more than 40 years, having been appointed by former Gov. G. Mennen Williams to the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority; by former Gov. George Romney to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women and by former Gov. William Milliken to the Michigan Commission on Criminal Justice, among other appointments.

A memorial service is scheduled for Nov. 1 at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, three sons, seven grandchildren and two brothers.