Obituary of Mabel MacKay

MACKAY ~ Mabel MacKay was born to Ora and Elsie Carr on May 8, 1907 in Oklahoma. Her father died when she was 3 months old, and her mother brought Mabel and her older sister Beulah back to Alberta to live at their grandparent's farm. In 1921 they moved to Stony Plain so the girls could attend high school. Mabel took grade 12 in Edmonton and was a good student. She went to Normal School in Camrose then taught back at Stony Plain. In 1927 the family took a trip to Oklahoma to visit her father's family and that fall Mabel started teaching at Ridgeclough School south of Lloydminster. There she met Charles MacKay and they were married October 18, 1929. Charles and Mabel farmed near McLaughlin and had two sons Edgar and Cecil. In 1937 they moved into McLaughlin to run the telephone office and later a garage and machine agency. Mabel kept the books, sold machinery parts and pumped gas and she raised her two sons. In 1950 the family moved again, this time to Lloydminster to go into the sand and gravel business where again she kept books and this time took on a job as a camp cook for nine summers. In 1972 Charles developed an interest in antique cars which led them to Sicamous, B.C. to open Grandpa Charlie's Antique Museum. Mabel worked in the museum, the gift shop, and in her garden which produced up to 75 lbs of strawberries. In 1976 Charles had a stroke and couldn't work as hard as he had been. Charles and Mabel sold the museum and spent 7 winters in Arizona where she spent a lot of time sewing, returning to Lloydminster in the summers. Charles died in 1983 and Mabel moved into the Knox Manor where she became one of the Knox merry makers, knitting, crocheting, tatting and doing morning exercises. Even her great grandchildren remember visiting, playing with toy cars, puzzles, and sharing Halloween candy. In 2003 Mabel moved into the Dr. Hemstock seniors residence where she continued to play their special brand of golf, visit with friends, participate in church activities, and crochet her beautiful table cloths and doilies. Mabel continued to crochet and knit right up to the age of 105 when her vision started failing to the point it was difficult for her to continue. Mabel passed away at the Lloydminster Hospital on Friday, July 5, 2013 at the age of 106 years. Mabel is survived by her two sons, Edgar and his wife Doris, and Cecil and his wife Madeline. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Marilyn Ashley (Rick), Brent MacKay ( Diane), Marie Roth (Jim), and Michelle Bootsman (Mark); and nine great-grandchildren: Kimberly Hamilton, Sarah Ashley, Russell and Mitchell MacKay, Julia and William Roth, and Nick, Kaitlyn, and Eric Bootsman, and numerous neices and nephews. The Funeral Service for Mabel was conducted from Knox Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. with Reverend Paul DuVal officiating. Grace United Church Choir performed "All The Way My Saviour Leads Me." The hymns sung, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "In The Garden" were accompanied by organist Irene Knowlson. The honorary pallbearers were all those who shared in her life. The active pallbearers were Brent MacKay, Rick Ashley, Mark Bootsman, Nick Bootsman, Eric Bootsman, Jim Roth and William Roth. Mabel was interred beside her husband Charles in the Oxville Cemetery. Donations in Mabel's memory may be made to the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Card of Thanks The MacKay family would like to Thank Dr. Snyman, Dr. V. Naidoo, the Nurses and Staff at the Lloydminster Hospital, Ambulance Staff, Home Care Nurses, and the Staff at Dr. Hemstock assisted living residence. Also Thanks to Reverend Paul DuVal for the lovely service and tribute to mother (Mabel), to Irene Knowlson for playing the piano, and to the Grace United Church Choir. Many Thanks to the Pallbearers, the Grace United Church U.C.W. ladies for the lunch, and to everyone for the flowers, cards, donations, food brought to the house, phone calls and visits. Special thanks to Glenn McCaw and the McCaw family and staff for all their help with arrangements and service. Sincerely, Edgar and Doris MacKay Cecil and Madeline MacKay and Family