1915
M.I.
2016
M.I. Violet Mckay
November 4, 1915 — June 16, 2016
M.I. Violet McKay (Hammond) died June 16, 2016, in Hampton, New Brunswick, at the Dr. V.A. Snow Centre.
She was born in Montreal, Quebec, Nov. 4, 1915, daughter of Jack and Murdina (Urquhart) Hammond.
Vi started school in Aberdeen School, Smith's Falls, Ontario, while staying with Aunt and Uncle Maria and Albert White, and returned to Montreal at the age of 11 where she attended Maisonneuve School. She worked in Woolworths, at the same time taking a business course at night school. She graduated as a Felt & Tarrant comptometer operator, working successfully for many years in Stienberg's head office, Montreal; Zellers head office; and Johns-Manville Mine, Asbestos, Quebec.
Vi and Norman McKay were married June 5, 1943, in Calgary, Alberta, where Norm was training for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Happily married for 54 years. Norm died in 1997 just short of his 87th birthday. She and Norm moved to the Annapolis Valley in the late '40s, and it was there she started her love of the game of golf. She later became a life member of the Saranac Lake Golf Club in Ray Brook.
Returning to Montreal in 1951, she settled in to raising her boys, Ross and Gary, and working as a fashion model for Juliette's while continuing to work with companies still using comptometers. She became a proud, award-winning public speaker with the Toastmistress organization. While Ross and Gary were on school breaks, she would spend all summer living in a tent in the Adirondack Mountains, with Norm commuting from Montreal on weekends. The love of the mountains led them to buy a small log cabin there, where they spent their summers after Norm's retirement. Never shy to meet anyone or to go anywhere, Vi traveled to England, Scotland and Asia even into her 80s. VI will be missed by all.
She was predeceased by brothers Jack and wife Mae (Broad) of Toronto, Douglas and wife Margery (Williams) of England, and sister Olive Stainer of Windsor, Ontario.
Vi is survived by two sons: Ross and wife Darlene (Boudreau) of Dieppe, New Brunswick, and Gary and wife Pamela (Wilson) of Wickham, New Brunswick; grandchildren Dawn and husband Brian Bell of Shediac, New Brunswick, Scott McKay of Calgary, Alberta, Holly McKay and husband Mark Clinton of Grand Bay, New Brunswick, and Stephen and wife Jenn LeBlanc of Salisbury; great-grandchildren Rayna and Malcolm Bell, Hunter and River Clinton, and Isaiah and Tristen LeBlanc; several nieces and nephews; and friends all over the world.
Her family members wish to thank the staff, management and volunteers of the Dr. V.A. Snow Centre for their wonderful care of Vi.
In keeping with Vi's wishes, there will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, Saranac Lake.
For those who wish, remembrances to High Peaks Hospice or to the charity of donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be placed at fortunekeough@verizon.net.
She was born in Montreal, Quebec, Nov. 4, 1915, daughter of Jack and Murdina (Urquhart) Hammond.
Vi started school in Aberdeen School, Smith's Falls, Ontario, while staying with Aunt and Uncle Maria and Albert White, and returned to Montreal at the age of 11 where she attended Maisonneuve School. She worked in Woolworths, at the same time taking a business course at night school. She graduated as a Felt & Tarrant comptometer operator, working successfully for many years in Stienberg's head office, Montreal; Zellers head office; and Johns-Manville Mine, Asbestos, Quebec.
Vi and Norman McKay were married June 5, 1943, in Calgary, Alberta, where Norm was training for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Happily married for 54 years. Norm died in 1997 just short of his 87th birthday. She and Norm moved to the Annapolis Valley in the late '40s, and it was there she started her love of the game of golf. She later became a life member of the Saranac Lake Golf Club in Ray Brook.
Returning to Montreal in 1951, she settled in to raising her boys, Ross and Gary, and working as a fashion model for Juliette's while continuing to work with companies still using comptometers. She became a proud, award-winning public speaker with the Toastmistress organization. While Ross and Gary were on school breaks, she would spend all summer living in a tent in the Adirondack Mountains, with Norm commuting from Montreal on weekends. The love of the mountains led them to buy a small log cabin there, where they spent their summers after Norm's retirement. Never shy to meet anyone or to go anywhere, Vi traveled to England, Scotland and Asia even into her 80s. VI will be missed by all.
She was predeceased by brothers Jack and wife Mae (Broad) of Toronto, Douglas and wife Margery (Williams) of England, and sister Olive Stainer of Windsor, Ontario.
Vi is survived by two sons: Ross and wife Darlene (Boudreau) of Dieppe, New Brunswick, and Gary and wife Pamela (Wilson) of Wickham, New Brunswick; grandchildren Dawn and husband Brian Bell of Shediac, New Brunswick, Scott McKay of Calgary, Alberta, Holly McKay and husband Mark Clinton of Grand Bay, New Brunswick, and Stephen and wife Jenn LeBlanc of Salisbury; great-grandchildren Rayna and Malcolm Bell, Hunter and River Clinton, and Isaiah and Tristen LeBlanc; several nieces and nephews; and friends all over the world.
Her family members wish to thank the staff, management and volunteers of the Dr. V.A. Snow Centre for their wonderful care of Vi.
In keeping with Vi's wishes, there will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, Saranac Lake.
For those who wish, remembrances to High Peaks Hospice or to the charity of donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be placed at fortunekeough@verizon.net.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of M.I. Violet Mckay, please visit our flower store.
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