Obituary for Jane McKay
Jane Katherine McLean McKay died peacefully in her sleep on March 14, 2022, in Coupeville, WA, with her daughter Caroline at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben McKay, her parents, Neil and Aileen McLean, and her brothers, Neil and Jim.
Jane was born on September 15, 1925, in Ellensburg, WA. She attended Aberdeen High School and graduated from Hoquiam High School. After high school she saved money to go to Seattle College (now Seattle University). Her father had moved the family to McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary where he had been hired as a prison guard. Relating that story in later years, she said, “My family went to prison, but I had a hundred dollars, so I went to school.”
While attending college, she met Ben McKay, a sailor fresh out of the Navy, who was living at Ma Thorne’s Boarding House on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Jane and Ben sat next to each other at dinner one night and she turned her head away for a moment. When she turned back, her dessert was gone. She looked this stranger in the eye and said, “You took my dessert!” He met her look and said with a straight face, “I thought you were done with it.” Naturally, they started dating and soon after that, she left college and married Ben. She returned to Seattle University twenty years and eight children later to graduate with a degree in Social Work. She and Ben were married for 41 years.
Jane owned and managed several businesses over her long life including a personnel agency in downtown Seattle and four shops in Seahurst and Hoodsport, WA. She was active in her churches, Our Lady of Lourdes in Seattle, WA, St. Germain’s in Hoodsport, WA, and St. Augustine’s in the Woods in Freeland, WA.
Jane is survived by her eight children, Liz (Pat), Jim (Joni), Bill (Shirley), Mike, Caroline (Bob), Kate (Dan), Mary, and Neil (Mary Ellen), nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She had many friends throughout her life including the staff and residents of Careage/Regency Coupeville where she spent her final years. When she moved to Whidbey Island, she had the good fortune to meet Anita Roe who was a constant and steadfast friend for the rest of Jane’s life.
Jane will be remembered as a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a good friend, great storyteller and music lover, a fighter and a do-gooder who stood up for the underdog, a two-time cancer survivor and a smart and funny woman who loved to make others laugh.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF) where she was an active volunteer for several years, working in the WAIF Freeland Thrift Store. (waifanimals.org/donate)
“No matter where I roam,
On land, or sea, or foam,
You can always hear me singing this song,
Show me the way to go home.”
-- Irving King
Jane was born on September 15, 1925, in Ellensburg, WA. She attended Aberdeen High School and graduated from Hoquiam High School. After high school she saved money to go to Seattle College (now Seattle University). Her father had moved the family to McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary where he had been hired as a prison guard. Relating that story in later years, she said, “My family went to prison, but I had a hundred dollars, so I went to school.”
While attending college, she met Ben McKay, a sailor fresh out of the Navy, who was living at Ma Thorne’s Boarding House on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Jane and Ben sat next to each other at dinner one night and she turned her head away for a moment. When she turned back, her dessert was gone. She looked this stranger in the eye and said, “You took my dessert!” He met her look and said with a straight face, “I thought you were done with it.” Naturally, they started dating and soon after that, she left college and married Ben. She returned to Seattle University twenty years and eight children later to graduate with a degree in Social Work. She and Ben were married for 41 years.
Jane owned and managed several businesses over her long life including a personnel agency in downtown Seattle and four shops in Seahurst and Hoodsport, WA. She was active in her churches, Our Lady of Lourdes in Seattle, WA, St. Germain’s in Hoodsport, WA, and St. Augustine’s in the Woods in Freeland, WA.
Jane is survived by her eight children, Liz (Pat), Jim (Joni), Bill (Shirley), Mike, Caroline (Bob), Kate (Dan), Mary, and Neil (Mary Ellen), nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She had many friends throughout her life including the staff and residents of Careage/Regency Coupeville where she spent her final years. When she moved to Whidbey Island, she had the good fortune to meet Anita Roe who was a constant and steadfast friend for the rest of Jane’s life.
Jane will be remembered as a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a good friend, great storyteller and music lover, a fighter and a do-gooder who stood up for the underdog, a two-time cancer survivor and a smart and funny woman who loved to make others laugh.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF) where she was an active volunteer for several years, working in the WAIF Freeland Thrift Store. (waifanimals.org/donate)
“No matter where I roam,
On land, or sea, or foam,
You can always hear me singing this song,
Show me the way to go home.”
-- Irving King