John Patterson McKay Jr., accomplished consultant
John Patterson McKay Jr., 67, of Lewes, passed away suddenly Friday, May 22, 2015, at his residence. John was born in Wilmington, July 23, 1947, son of Julia Ann (Patterson) McKay and the late John Patterson McKay Sr.
John attended Tower Hill School in Wilmington. He furthered his education attending and graduating from Salisbury School in Connecticut. John also attended Franklin and Marshall College where he earned his bachelor's degree. He served his country proudly for three three years with the U.S. Army, where he was stationed for a year and a half in Germany.
John’s professional career included working for both the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, where he served in leadership roles in business development. After retirement, John focused on using the skills he acquired working for the chambers, and became a business and event development consultant. John worked on special events for the Chamber and Goodwill Industries. He also served on the Canary Creek H.O.A. committee.
As an avid boater, John loved to travel around the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware Bay boating with family and good friends. John and his wife Linda were members of the Lewes Yacht Club where they enjoyed the club’s activities and dining. He immensely enjoyed any project where he could use his hands to build or repair an item or send someone a good business lead. These projects included working on a BMW that he brought back from Germany 40 years ago which was completely restored this past spring.
John was preceded in death by his father, John Patterson McKay Sr. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Ridgway McKay of Lewes; his mother, Julia Ann Patterson McKay of Cokesbury Village, Hockessin; two brothers, Richard McKay and his wife Robin of Harbeson, and James McKay and his wife Jan of Williamsburg, Va.; and three nephews: Garrett, Jonathan and Jason McKay.
A Celebration of John’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 29, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 211 Mulberry St., Lewes. Interment will be private.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County, ATTN: Ted Sikorski, 300 East Lea Blvd., Wilmington DE 19802.
Please visit John's Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
