McKay, Gary Lester 1942-2014

MCKAY, HIZEY, BEASLEY, WAGONER, SNAKENBURG

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/14/2016 at 15:12:50

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
January 2014

GARY L. MCKAY

Gary L. McKay, 71, of Grinnell, died on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 18, 2014, at the United Methodist Church in Grinnell with the Rev. John Epperson officiating. Music was provided by William Tinker, organist, and Judy Arendt, vocalist. Casket bearers were Shawn and Connor McKay, Brian Wagoner, and Bill, Scott and Brandt Snakenburg. Honorary bearers were Ali and Baylee Wagoner, Kennedy McKay, David Graham, Tom Knoll, Sanford Turner, Phil Palmer, Cliff Strovers and Vernon Van Wyk. A graveside service was held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2014, at the Sixteen Cemetery near What Cheer, Iowa.

Friends called at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and the McKay family was present at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

Memorials may be directed to Grinnell Regional Medical Center or to the United Presbyterian Church in Gibson, Iowa, and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Gary was born, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to James Lester and Dorothy Hizey McKay. He was raised in Gibson, Iowa, and graduated from Thornburg High School with the Class of 1961. Later, he attended the University of Northern Iowa.

On November 16, 1963, he was united in marriage to Patty Beasley in Gibson and to this union two children, Shawn and Shannon were born.

Gary began his insurance career in 1962 with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. He held several positions and continually advanced his career. In 1966, Gary and family moved to Fairfield, Iowa, where he worked for Jefferson County Mutual. In 1974, the family relocated to Clarinda, Iowa, and Gary was named manager of Southwest Iowa Mutual Insurance Agency. In 1980, he resigned from Southwest Iowa Mutual to devote full time to the agency and to best serve his clients and customers. He was extremely proud of the service that the agency provided to the many people and friends in Clarinda and Southwest Iowa. The McKay family moved to Grinnell in 1997, where he purchased the McDowell Insurance Agency from Cliff Strovers. Gary owned and operated the McKay-McDowell Insurance Agency until he retired in December of 2007. In his 45-year insurance career, Gary established numerous friendships, partnerships and business relationships with clients, agency and company staff as well as many others. Gary loved people and was very grateful for the opportunity to serve others in his insurance career.

The most important thing in his life was his wife, children and grandchildren and he enjoyed following their interests and activities. He spent much of his leisure time doing outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, golfing and yard work. Earlier in his life he enjoyed flying his Piper Cub airplane. He had a passion for horses. Gary treasured all the special times at Lost Nation with his friends whom he considered family.

Survivors include his wife, Patty McKay of Grinnell; his children, Shawn (Cathy) McKay of Grinnell and Shannon (Brian) Wagoner of Lincoln, Neb.; four grandchildren, Ali Wagoner, Kennedy McKay, Connor McKay and Baylee Wagoner; one sister, Linda (Bill) Snakenburg of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and two nephews, Scott (Tiffany) Snakenburg and Brandt (Dawn) Snakenburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents.