Johnny 'Mike' McKay

Johnny “Mike” McKay passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2018 in Yuma, Arizona, after a brief battle with cancer.

Born on May 22, 1942 in Big Timber, as middle child to James and Goldie (Larson) McKay. Mike was raised and educated in Big Timber, graduating high school in 1960. He then married Joyce Loveseth and joined the United States Army. In 1965 after being honorably discharged they settled in Libby to raise their two children, Lori and Craig. He was employed by St. Regis Lumber Company (later known as Champion) until 1988, as an electrician. Mike was a brilliant man and a master fabricator. Stories still circulate in Libby to this day: “If you needed a piece of equipment to do a job, tell Mike.” He would design and build it for you.

In 1984, he married Myrna (Martens) McKay, and went to work for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Leadville, Colorado. They later settled in Powell, Wyoming, where he worked at the Buffalo Bill Dam, in Cody, Wyoming until his retirement in 2007. After retiring they would snowbird to Arizona in the winter where you could find them in their jeep, somewhere in the desert most days. If it was summer, they were probably in Alaska, fishing for halibut.

Myrna passed away after battling cancer in 2014. In 2015 he met his friend Dottie Micheals in Yuma, Arizona, who was by his side through his illness and passing.

Mike was preceded in death by both parents; his first wife Joyce and second wife Myrna; his sisters Bonnie and Rosemary; and brother Pat.

He is survived by his children — Lori (McKay) Sickler and husband Bruce, Craig McKay and wife Andrea, and stepson Terry Martens and wife Pam; his brothers Jerry, Tim, Steve and Tom; and his sisters Judy and Sharon. His grandchildren include Brandon and Jessica Sickler and great-grandson Jace, Madisen Sickler, Isaiah Sickler, Samantha McKay, Mike and Seth Jester, Paul and Heather Martens and Tracie Martens.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 24 in Yuma, Arizona.