Mark John Stewart McKay's Memorial

Mark John Stewart McKay
(1924 - 2014)

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General Details

Name: Mr Mark John Stewart McKay
Gender: Male
Age: 90 years old
Lived: Sunday, 16 March 1924 - Wednesday, 11 June 2014

My Story

Born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland, to Mark and Isabella McKay, "Stewart" as he is known to his British kin was the third of three lads. Growing up, he enjoyed fishing and hunting, including with his favourite dog "Puggles" and was a self-confessed "little trouble maker" ... always into something. Schooling was interrupted by WWII and Mark spent several years in India training as an aeroplane navigator. However, fortunately for us, the war ended before he saw any actual combat.

After returning from the war, he showed aptitude in the arts and so trained as a graphic artist and illustrator. In 1952, he met his future wife, Gudrun, at a local dance and they were soon married. Over the next 8 years, they would have four children: Alexandra (Sandy), Ewan (Mark), Fiona and Karen. Mark Sr. pursued his career as a graphic artist working for the Scottish newspaper, the Dundee Courier.

In 1965, Stewart and family emigrated to Canada. In Canada, he switched to his "Christian name", being known as Mark to all new friends and colleagues from then on. He started with the Toronto Telegram, but after the closing of that newspaper, went on to work for several agencies in commercial graphics. In the late '70's, he started his own firm, Chevron Graphics, which he ran until his retirement in the late '80's.

After Gudrun's passing in 1985, Mark met Ligia in 1989 and they were married in 1993. Together, they enjoyed traveling, especially to visit Ligia's family in Colombia, where they also had the "casita", a vacation home that provided many great visits and memories. While the McKay family is small, the Villegas family is large and Mark enjoyed and was embraced by his new relatives.

Mark remained in good health and was quite active until relatively recently. Even after travel became more cumbersome and he stayed back, he still enjoyed staying connected on Facebook, e-mail and his iPad. He passed quietly in hospital early in the morning of Wednesday June 11.

Mark is survived by his wife, Ligia (her children Ivan/ Sylvia), son Mark (Fran) (grandsons Bradley, Bob and Kyle), daughters Sandy (Lawrence) (grandchildren Veronica and Russell, great-grandchild Sheilagh), Fiona (Dennis) and Karen (John), cousin Margaret (Wigton Cumbria England) and nieces Morna and Janette (Laurencekirk nr Aberdeen/ Newport-on-Tay nr Dundee, Scotland).

At Mark's request, there will be no visitation or service; a private interment for immediate family will be held on Wed., June 18, 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Famous People Players Theatre, in Mark's name, is appreciated. http://www.fpp.org. Famous Peoples relies entirely on show revenues and donations to support them and it was Mark's special charity. We celebrated his 90th birthday at FPP this past March.

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A CELEBRATION OF MARK'S LIFE will be held on Saturday, June 28, at his place of residence, 133 Torresdale Avenue, near Bathurst and Finch in Toronto, from 1-3 pm. Spoken remembrances and tributes will start at 2:30 pm. Limited parking is available in the visitor parking lots both in front of and behind the building or anywhere along the street. Consider sharing one of your fondest memories with us. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THERE!

Directions: From the 401, north on Bathurst, past Finch. Turn left at the lights on Antibes Dr. Turn left at stop sign. Follow Antibes to Torresdale. Turn left on Torresdale. 133 is first condo building on left. Park anywhere here.

From the north: south on Bathurst, past Steeles. Turn right at the lights on Antibes Dr. Turn left at stop sign. Follow Antibes to Torresdale. Turn left on Torresdale. 133 is first condo building on left. Park anywhere here.

Or 'west on Steeles from Bathurst' or 'east on Steeles from Dufferin' to Torresdale (lights). South on Torresdale to 133 Torresdale (first condo on left past Antibes). Park anywhere here.

Latest Tributes

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Biography

Fathers Name: Mark McKay
Mothers Name: Isabella (nee Morgan) McKay
Spouse's Name: Gudrun (nee Ott) McKay (deceased); Ligia Villegas
Children's Names: Alexandra (Sandy) Marina, Ewan Mark, Fiona Christine, Karen Patricia
Siblings Names: Morgan (deceased), Ian (deceased)
Country of Birth: Scotland
Country of Residence: Canada
City of Residence: Toronto
Occupation: Marketing
Marital Status: Married
Religion: Other Christian

Interests

Favourite Sport: Tennis
Favourite Charity: Famous Peoples Players Theatre
Other Interests:
travel, gardening, family, pets, Upper Canada Choristers

Passing

Date of Passing: 11 June 2014
Type of Funeral: cremation
Place of Burial: Pine Hills Cemetary, Scarborough
Plot Number: Section 13, #8017
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