DONALD WALTER MACKAY
March 27, 1922 to April 3. 2012
Don MacKay passed away suddenly on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, one week after his 90th birthday. He is survived by his son, Roger (Angela); grandson, Guy; sister, Helen; and brother, Angus (Vera). Don was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor; both parents, Robert and Jean; his sisters, Evelyn and Grace (Rocco Talarico); and his brother, Bob (Liz).
Don was born on the farm near Vedora, Saskatchewan. During the Great depression the family relocated for a time to Maple Creek, Sask., and eventually, while en route to the coast, settled permanently at Grand Forks. His early job experiences included farm labourer, railway construction in the Kootenays and “riding the rails” on top of a boxcar to work in the orchards of the Okanagan. While working at a pulp mill at the coast, Don joined the military during World War ll. As a member of the 32nd Battery, Royal Canadian Artillary, Don participated in Operation Overlord and the campaign in Northern Europe.
After the war Don settled in to the career that would define him, falling timber. As a faller he worked at various locations throughout the local area, northern B.C. and Vancouver Island. He met Eleanor and they were married in 1957. In the mid 60s Don decided on a career change to less transitory work with the local Department of Highways. He continued there until his retirement in 1987. Retirement allowed Don more time to pursue his hobbies of hunting, fishing, gardening and more fishing.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, with interment at Evergreen Cemetery and a reception at the Royal Canadian Legion afterwards. Grand Forks Funeral Home had care of arrangements.