William John McKay, 89, of Margate, FL passed away on July 30, 2024.

Hello everyone, thank you for being here. If you are reading this, I'm off on a different journey with my heavenly Father. I hope I am deserving. My wife, Shirley, taught me that He is a merciful and loving dad.

My birth name was Carl John Mckay, which I later changed to William Carl John Mckay. A beautiful lady refers to me as "William." She tells me "William" is an elegant name for a very elegant man. To my Canada family, I am Bud or Uncle Bud. To my friends, I am Bill, and to my Florida family, I am Papa.

I was born in Sarnia, Ontario Canada, to Warren and Ona McKay, the second of two children. My sister, Jackie, and I shared a long and wonderful relationship until her death in 2023.

As a boy, I delivered papers in our community to help out our family. In the winter, the snow was so heavy, I had to push my rickety old bike most of the way. Yes! I froze my butt.

I graduated from Sarnia Institute Of Technology where I played football and hockey. I continued playing hockey throughout my teens into young adulthood. In 1958, while playing pre-professional hockey in Forest Ontario, I met Diana Berry (deceased) we were married shortly after and moved to Indiana USA, where we parented twin boys, John and James (deceased). In 1959, I enrolled at Triune University to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. It was not easy helping to care for twin boys, working full time and trying to study for a college degree. There were many days that I would fall asleep in class with my professor yelling at me, "McKay, why are you sleeping in my class? Never mind, I will give you a D." Eventually, we moved our family to Flushing, Michigan where I worked several Engineering jobs. Sadly, this took me away from home and family frequently. During those years I continued to coach hockey; two of my protegees became professionals.

In 1983, our family relocated to Florda, where we settled in Hillsboro Beach. Over the years, we maintained a home in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Together with our sons, we started our own construction company, "McKay Construction," working on many projects, including the cemetery, Queen Of Heaven in Broward County, where I will be laid to rest.

In 2019, aging, and unable to cope in Hillsboro, I sold my home and moved to Margate, Palm Springs 11. One fateful day, I met a beautiful, compassionate, empathetic lady who would eventually become my wife, my best friend, my soulmate and my sole caregiver. Words are not enough to thank my wife, Shirley, for all the love and sacrifices she extended to me. Saying goodbye will be difficult.

I would like to thank Shirley's children, her grandchildren, all of her extended family, her two sons-in-law, Dorian and Leon, who spent many hours helping me out. Thank you all for sharing her with me.

To my faithful friends, Richard (who is like a brother to me) and Claudia Petrocelli, Beverly Olini, Paul Strongman (Oakville, Ontario) I treasure our friendships. Thank you for the love and good times.

To my friends at Palm Springs11, Gloria and Gerry, David, Alex, Harry, Ruth and Bill (deceased) and Lester building 12B thank you all for your kindness over the years.

To my Canada family, Gord, Shelly and Peter, Scott and family, Jackie and I will be watching over you from afar.  Shelly, you have been a blessing for your aging parents.

To my Florida family, my son, John, my grandchildren, Ashley, Timmy and Rachel, my great grandson, JJ, who has been a joy to me. My two daughters-in-law, Vicky and Patricia, we all shared a great journey together, thanks for all the love over the years. As I say goodbye to you, let us remember all the good times. Don't think about the sad times but treasure all the special moments that life has to offer.

I love you all. See you all on the other side.

Love William, Bill, Bud, Uncle Bud, Papa

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