Neil Harold McKay, Jr. Obituary (1920 - 2020)

At almost 100 years of age, Neil Harold McKay, Jr. died quietly at his home in Oro Valley, Arizona on July 15, 2020. Neil was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 19, 1920 to N.H. McKay, Sr. and Carrie Belle Davis McKay. He was raised in Fontana, California, and attended University of Southern California where he earned his bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1942. He began work at Shell Chemical Company in California, was transferred to New York in 1947 and to Houston in 1949, where he met and married Margaret Ann ("Nan") Curry McKay in 1952. The couple relocated to Walnut Creek, California in 1955. The couple had two children, Pamela Kean (b. CA 1956) and Charles Andrew (b. NY 1962). Neil was transferred back to NYC in 1960, living in New Canaan, Connecticut until the purchase of a brownstone on East 88th Street in Manhattan. Neil's loves were woodworking, home building and renovation, and he accomplished all on 88th Street as he gutted and renovated a coal cellar and a portion of the ground floor for the family's residence. Neil attained his MBA in economics from New York University in 1973. He was an active 50-year member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Moving to Houston in 1970, the couple was active at St. Francis Episcopal Church and Neil dabbled in local politics. When he retired from Shell in 1980, the couple moved to Santa Rosa, California where they designed and built a beautiful split-level home adjacent to Annadel State Park, which house was regularly full of family and friends as they enjoyed entertaining. Neil was seen regularly walking the hills at the north end of the Sonoma Mountains, and keeping the deer out of Nan's vegetable gardens. Both Nan and Neil were actively involved at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Kenwood, California. During his extended retirement Neil was blessed to be able to travel extensively with Nan, visiting his sister Mary in Africa while husband Glenn was on sabbatical there. They visited Shell friends in France. On an Australian trip the ever-adventurous Neil broke his arm, followed by a trip to Great Britain and far northern isles on an Elderhostel jaunt. December 31, 1999 Nan and Neil welcomed in the year 2000 in Times Square. Despite Nan's untimely death on July 25, 2000, Neil's children proceeded with the 80th birthday celebration that Nan had planned, hosted in Texas with family and friends from across the country in attendance. In April 2001, Neil married Coralie "Corky" Charlotte Schmidt, widow of a Shell friend of Neil and Nan's. While residing in Clear Lake, Texas, they travelled to Central America via the Panama Canal, and Antarctica. In 2008, Neil and Corky moved to Tucson, AZ to be near Neil's sister Mary. The last several years of their marriage were challenged by Alzheimer's disease, until Corky sadly passed in 2012. In 2014 Neil met Joan Emily Swanson and they married in 2015 in Texas. Their travels included trips to Florida, to Texas to visit family, and an Alaskan cruise with family, visiting friends in Seattle. Joan's daughter Jill orchestrated a 99th birthday party for Neil in October 1999 which included Neil's children, and all of Joan's children, spouses and others. Neil was blessed with an incredibly bright, active, and thoughtful mind. Reading was his love, whether Architectural Digest, The Economist, Scientific America, or Investor's Business Daily, which he devoured. He was curious about everything and made of point of conversations on all subjects with anyone who was willing to entertain his questions and impart their knowledge. Coupled with his Scottish thriftiness, Neil was savvy in financial matters, and prudent in his investments, wishing to take good care of those that he loved. He was an economist by training and at heart, believing that our country's wellbeing is ultimately based on sound financial practices. The American Institute for Economic Research is a non-profit that he supported. Most of all, Neil was a kind, patient and helpful man who never met a stranger, disliked conflict, and would stand up to support his deeply held beliefs. Neil is survived by his wife, Joan Swanson of Tucson, his daughter Pamela McKay Kenner and spouse Ken, and their children Claude William IV, Bobby John, Kenneth Casey and Gavin Becker. He is survived by his son Charles Andrew McKay and wife Jennifer, and their children Michael Andrew, Margaret Anna, and Maya LiQian. Neil is survived by four great grandchildren, seven stepchildren and their families, and numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service is being planned for Tucson at a date to be determined. Memorial bricks will be placed in the Labyrinth Memorial Garden at St. Philips in Tucson in honor of both Neil and Nan. Neil watched sadly in October of 2017 as the Tubbs Fire did extensive damage, and the more recent Glass Fire, both of which threatened Santa Rosa; the family offers up prayers for those affected by those fires. As was his wish, Neil's ashes will be interred St. Patrick's Church where Nan is buried. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Casa de La Luz Hospice in Tucson, and Vistoso Funeral Home in Oro Valley.