In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Merrill Raymond (Ray) McKay

 

UNTD, U-49736

 

Sub-Lieutenant (Electrical Branch), O-49527, RCN(R)

 

Born: 19 Apr 1931, Amherst, Nova Scotia

 

Died: 25 May 2021, Moncton, New Brunswick

 

McKay, Merrill Raymond (Ray) - the first electronic technology instructor in communications in New Brunswick at NBCC Moncton Campus, formally known as "The Tech," died at The Moncton Hospital at 10 PM on May 25, 2021. Thank you, staff, of 4200 for the great care you gave to Ray during his last days.

 

Merrill Raymond McKay was born April 19, 1931 in Amherst, Nova Scotia according to his mom, Reta Marion (Maston) McKay, but the state says he was born on the 20th. Ray would take advantage of the mix up and celebrate on both days. He was named after his father, Merrill Arthur McKay, and his paternal uncle Raymond, who was mustard gassed during WWI and was a cripple the rest of his life.

 

Ray was predeceased by his eldest daughter Roberta Joy McKay and his wife Marjorie Jean (Taylor) McKay. He is survived by his son Merrill Austin Taylor McKay (Mavis) and his granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth (McKay) Wilson (Chris) and two great granddaughters, Christen Elizabeth Wilson and Casey Amelia Hope Wilson and his youngest daughter Reta Margaret McKay.

 

At the age of 11, Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour while listening to a radio program of the Fuller Institute in the USA. However, he always said he did not live life as if he had, which made him feel guilty whenever he did something he knew was not pleasing to his Saviour.

 

At the age of 17 his cousin Doug Keddy invited him to hear Wally Jollymore speak at the Salvation Army in Amherst. Ray would rededicate his life to Christ at that time and would seek to please his LORD from then on.

 

Austin Wylie Taylor, who would become Ray’s father-in-law, gave him the book, "One Man’s Destiny" by C.R. Dickey, published by Destiny Publishers, that would cause him to believe that the House of Israel was not destroyed by the Assyrians, but became known as Gentiles and would be found in the people who lived in Great Britain and parts of the Commonwealth and the United States of America.

 

To pay for his college education so he could get his Bachelor in Engineering with honors and thus become a Professional Engineer, he joined the ROTC, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in the Navy.

 

Ray would always say when the time of Christ’s kingdom was restored to what Christ wanted in the first place, "I just want to be there me-self." The saying came from a man that worked in the woods of Shulee, Nova Scotia who asked his boss to have the day off to go to his wedding so he could be there himself.

 

Visitation at Fergusons Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton (858-1995) on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. A Service to celebrate and honor Ray’s life will be held from Fergusons Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, May 31, 2021 at 11:00 am. Interment will be in the Wesleyan Cemetery, Doaktown. COVID-19 restrictions will be in place and wearing a mask is mandatory.

 

Donations to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms in Ray’s memory would be very much appreciated or the charity of your choice.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS SCOTIAN for UNTD

HMCS SCOTIAN (Retired List) - Listed as a SLt (L), RCN(R) (seniority 01 Sep 1954) (Navy List Jul 1957)

* Last noted on the Retired List at HMCS SCOTIAN as a SLt (RCN(R) (Navy List Jan 1960)

 


 

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