R. Bruce Mckay

NORTH TROY, VT/ HOLDEN, MA - In the early morning hours of November 24, 2016, R. Bruce McKay passed away quietly at Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton, VT with family at his side. Bruce was 89 years old. He was born in Boston on November 22, 1927 at Lying-In Hospital. He was the first child of Myrtle Adams and Alexander Roy McKay.  As a child, Bruce lived in Quincy before moving to Holden when he was 11 years old. While there, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holden. After graduating from Holden High School, Bruce attended Wilbraham Academy, one of the 15 oldest preparatory schools on the east coast. Bruce graduated from Eastern Illinois University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.        In 1939, Bruce joined the Boy Scouts and eventually became Scoutmaster to Troop 182 in Holden; a position he held for nearly two decades. He was happy teaching young scouts to explore and thrive in the outdoors with fellow scout leaders Herb Holmes, Al Court and Walt Koenig. Their rainy camping trips made for legendary stories.      Bruce also spent many years as a volunteer on the Holden Fire Department. As a high school student he gleefully left school whenever the siren rang as so many of the town’s firemen were serving in WWII.  Near the end of WWII, Bruce enlisted in the Army Air Corp which became the US Air Force at the conclusion of the war, making Bruce a charter member of the US Air Force. He was stationed in Hawaii and in Guam earning the rank of Corporal.      Bruce worked in real estate with his father at A. Roy and R. Bruce McKay Real Estate before beginning his 20-year teaching career at Westboro High School where he was genuinely fond of his students. After retiring from teaching, Bruce enjoyed working for the Environmental Protection Agency.  Among Bruce’s many passions were hunting, fly fishing (tying his own flies) and photography; he studied at the Maine Photographic Workshop. Bruce loved to take road trips across the United States, to PEI, Canada and Scotland. Bruce enjoyed woodworking, creating wonderful nooks and crannies in his home, building unique and functional kitchen cabinets and crafting fun trinkets for his grandchildren. Bruce was also active in the Stepfamily Association of America. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and was a member of Clan MacKay, USA.      In 1995, following his retirement, Bruce moved to North Troy, VT. He was active on the North Country Union school board and he served as a town lister.      Bruce was a 32nd degree Mason, a past Master of Union Lodge #16 F&AM of Troy, VT and Deputy District Grand Master of the 10th Masonic district composed of seven lodges in the Northeast Kingdom. Bruce was preceded in death by: his first wife, Jean Court (deceased 1961), his son, David Bruce McKay, his son-in-law, Peter Brewer and granddaughter, Courtney LaFrance.       Bruce is survived by Anne Clowes of North Troy, VT, his beloved wife of 54 years with whom he raised their children. Bruce leaves three sons: Donald McKay and wife, Sherri of Montague, MA, Scott McKay and his partner, Wendy Ong of Cambridge, MA, and Keith McKay and his wife, Christine, of Los Angeles, CA. He is also survived by four daughters, Linda Brewer of Rutland, MA, Judith Lowry of Ozark, MO, Jennifer Kennison and her husband, Dana of Montgomery, VT and Gail Lacey and her husband, Phil of St. Petersburg, FL.  Bruce also leaves Lynn Bissett of Coventry, CT, Michael Lowry of Nevada, MO and Laura Need, M.D. of Arlington, MA.  Twelve grandchildren were lucky to call Bruce their Grandpa, Joshua Lowry and his wife, Rachel, Jesse McKay, Matthew B. Howrey and his wife Michelle, Brianne McKay, Matthew Brewer, Carly Allen and her husband Randy, Whitney (Lyra) McKay, Danielle McKay, Colin Lacey, Grady Kennison, Parker McKay and Alexander McKay. Bruce also is survived by nine great-grandchildren. Bruce leaves his cherished sister, Janel Carlson; his niece, Krista Vinkemulder of Atlanta, GA; nephew, Charles Vinkemulder and his wife, Lisa Scali; niece Sara Spidle and her husband, Ronald all of Portland, ME, a brother-in-law, John (Jack) Court and his wife, Sally of Southington CT; many nieces, nephews and cousins including his cousins in PEI, Canada; his good friends, William and Susi Kinsloe-Byers; and Bruce’s longtime neighbor, Herbert Holmes.      Bruce will be remembered for his kindness and his sense of humor.   A memorial service will be held at 11am on Friday, June 30, 2017, in the First Baptist Church, 1216 Main Street, Holden, with interment following in Grove Cemetery, Holden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to C.A.R.E. a Masonic charity organization helping to identify at-risk children or to The Alzheimer’s Association Research Division 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472. To share a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com






NORTH TROY, VT/ HOLDEN, MA - In the early morning hours of November 24, 2016, R. Bruce McKay passed away quietly at Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton, VT with family at his side. Bruce was 89 years old. He was born in Boston on November 22, 1927 at Lying-In Hospital. He was the first child of Myrtle Adams and Alexander Roy McKay.  As a child, Bruce lived in Quincy before moving to Holden when he was 11 years old. While there, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holden. After graduating from Holden High School, Bruce attended Wilbraham Academy, one of the 15 oldest preparatory schools on the east coast. Bruce graduated from Eastern Illinois University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.        In 1939, Bruce joined the Boy Scouts and eventually became Scoutmaster to Troop 182 in Holden; a position he held for nearly two decades. He was happy teaching young scouts to explore and thrive in the outdoors with fellow scout leaders Herb Holmes, Al Court and Walt Koenig. Their rainy camping trips made for legendary stories.      Bruce also spent many years as a volunteer on the Holden Fire Department. As a high school student he gleefully left school whenever the siren rang as so many of the town’s firemen were serving in WWII.  Near the end of WWII, Bruce enlisted in the Army Air Corp which became the US Air Force at the conclusion of the war, making Bruce a charter member of the US Air Force. He was stationed in Hawaii and in Guam earning the rank of Corporal.      Bruce worked in real estate with his father at A. Roy and R. Bruce McKay Real Estate before beginning his 20-year teaching career at Westboro High School where he was genuinely fond of his students. After retiring from teaching, Bruce enjoyed working for the Environmental Protection Agency.  Among Bruce’s many passions were hunting, fly fishing (tying his own flies) and photography; he studied at the Maine Photographic Workshop. Bruce loved to take road trips across the United States, to PEI, Canada and Scotland. Bruce enjoyed woodworking, creating wonderful nooks and crannies in his home, building unique and functional kitchen cabinets and crafting fun trinkets for his grandchildren. Bruce was also active in the Stepfamily Association of America. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and was a member of Clan MacKay, USA.      In 1995, following his retirement, Bruce moved to North Troy, VT. He was active on the North Country Union school board and he served as a town lister.      Bruce was a 32nd degree Mason, a past Master of Union Lodge #16 F&AM of Troy, VT and Deputy District Grand Master of the 10th Masonic district composed of seven lodges in the Northeast Kingdom. Bruce was preceded in death by: his first wife, Jean Court (deceased 1961), his son, David Bruce McKay, his son-in-law, Peter Brewer and granddaughter, Courtney LaFrance.       Bruce is survived by Anne Clowes of North Troy, VT, his beloved wife of 54 years with whom he raised their children. Bruce leaves three sons: Donald McKay and wife, Sherri of Montague, MA, Scott McKay and his partner, Wendy Ong of Cambridge, MA, and Keith McKay and his wife, Christine, of Los Angeles, CA. He is also survived by four daughters, Linda Brewer of Rutland, MA, Judith Lowry of Ozark, MO, Jennifer Kennison and her husband, Dana of Montgomery, VT and Gail Lacey and her husband, Phil of St. Petersburg, FL.  Bruce also leaves Lynn Bissett of Coventry, CT, Michael Lowry of Nevada, MO and Laura Need, M.D. of Arlington, MA.  Twelve grandchildren were lucky to call Bruce their Grandpa, Joshua Lowry and his wife, Rachel, Jesse McKay, Matthew B. Howrey and his wife Michelle, Brianne McKay, Matthew Brewer, Carly Allen and her husband Randy, Whitney (Lyra) McKay, Danielle McKay, Colin Lacey, Grady Kennison, Parker McKay and Alexander McKay. Bruce also is survived by nine great-grandchildren. Bruce leaves his cherished sister, Janel Carlson; his niece, Krista Vinkemulder of Atlanta, GA; nephew, Charles Vinkemulder and his wife, Lisa Scali; niece Sara Spidle and her husband, Ronald all of Portland, ME, a brother-in-law, John (Jack) Court and his wife, Sally of Southington CT; many nieces, nephews and cousins including his cousins in PEI, Canada; his good friends, William and Susi Kinsloe-Byers; and Bruce’s longtime neighbor, Herbert Holmes.      Bruce will be remembered for his kindness and his sense of humor.   A memorial service will be held at 11am on Friday, June 30, 2017, in the First Baptist Church, 1216 Main Street, Holden, with interment following in Grove Cemetery, Holden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to C.A.R.E. a Masonic charity organization helping to identify at-risk children or to The Alzheimer’s Association Research Division 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472. To share a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com