JOHN McKAY PASSES AWAY

Old Settler Passes Away After Long Illness. Active In Civic Life. Held Positions Of Trust In City.

HAD HOST OF FRIENDS

John McKay, a resident of this city for the past forty five years, passed away Sunday, May 14th, as the result of a series of cerebral hemorrhages. He had been a sufferer for more than two years, and while his death was momentarily expected, yet the end came as a shock to the community which he has served in so many different capacities.

Deceased was born in Prince Edward Island on the east of Canada, coming to Blair when a lad of nineteen years to work for his uncle John McQuarrie, who at that time was identified in the lumber firm of McQuarrie and Wiseman. For a number of years he made his home with the McQuarrie family, and on Nov. 5, 1895 was married to Miss Lutie I. Newell. About a year after his marriage he became associated with his father-in-law, Willard Newell, in the flour and feed business, and continued in that business until his health failed him over two years ago.

Mr. McKay was a public-minded citizen, and always took a great interest in the civic affairs of the city and served several years on the city council in a very efficient manner.

He was always deeply interested in the Blair Fire Department and served as its chief and also as its president for a number of years, and in 1906 was president of the state association. He was also a member of the local I.O.O.F. order and the Masons and Modern Woodmen, and served for a number of years as one of the directors of the Blair Building and Loan Association.

Always a good law-abiding citizen, he has made for himself a place in the hearts of his friends that will be a pleasant memory, and he will long be pointed to as a citizen of honor and respect.

Besides the wife, he leaves a son, J. Willard and a daughter, Madeline I. The son is married and residing on a farm near Blair, but the daughter is single and at home. He also leaves two brothers, Donald, who resides in New Brunswick and Alexander, still in Prince Edward Island.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the Bendorf Funeral Home with Rev. A. F. Newell officiating, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

#2-May 18, 1933-The Pilot Tribune-John McKay

JOHN McKAY DIES SUNDAY AT AGE OF 63

Served as City Councilman for Long Period; Active in Civic Organizations, Fire Department and Fraternal Orders

John McKay passed away at his home on east Grant Street Sunday afternoon at 4:00 o’clock, having been confined at home the greater part of the time since he suffered a stroke about two years ago. The deceased was born September 17, 1869 at Coleman, Prince Edward Island, and was of Scottish descent. At the age of nineteen he came to Blair and took up a position with his uncle, the late John McQuarrie.

On November 5, 1895 he was united in marriage to Lucy Irene Newell and to this union two children were born, both of whom together with his wife survive him.

Mr. McKay operated the Blair flour mill together with his father-in-law, the late J. Willard Newell, in 1896 and a few years later he went into business for himself, establishing the business located on the main business section which he conducted until his health failed him two years ago.

Being foremost interested in the development of Blair and his community, Mr. McKay took a very active part in the community’s affairs. He served as councilman from the Third ward for many terms and only retired from active duty when his health compelled him to do so; he was a member of the board of directors of the Blair Building and Loan Association for many years; and was an active member in the Blair Volunteer Fire Department for forty-four years, being the second eldest from the point of years of service, in the fire department. He served a term in 1905 as president of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen’s Association and was president of the Blair department from 1919 to 1931. He was honored at a banquet given at the Clifton hotel in March 1931 for at that time completing his forty-second year as an active member of the fire department.

He was also active in fraternal orders having held membership in the Odd Fellows since he was 21 and having been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years. He also held membership in the Modern Woodmen order.

Funeral services were conducted from the Bendorf funeral home Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. A.F. Newell, pastor of the Congregational church delivering the funeral sermon. A profusion of floral tributes at the last rites were indicative of the high esteem in which he had been held by his fellow citizens.

Surviving him are his bereaved wife; a son, Willard; a daughter, Madeline; and two brothers, Donald McKay of Sussex, New Brunswick and Alexander McKay of Coleman, Prince Edward Island.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave #110518959