Gail McKay

She was a “touchstone” amongst her family and friends and was known for her infectious laugh and smile. She never forgot a name and never knew a stranger.

She was born 4/1/28 in New Rochelle, New York and raised in neighboring Pelham, N.Y. Gail graduated from Knox School in Cooperstown, New York and attended Greenbrier College for Women in Lewisburg, W.Va.

Nicknamed, “Snail”, for her speed in the water, Gail won multiple swimming and diving competitions at Westchester Country Club Beach Club in Rye, N.Y., and was a possible contender for the US Olympic Team, had it not been for WWII.

The McKay family moved from Pelham, N.Y. to Toccoa, Ga., in late 1963.

Gail was an active volunteer with both Red Cross and Hospital Auxiliaries of New Rochelle, N.Y. and Toccoa, Georgia.

Her retirement years were spent at both Chickasaw Point, Westminster, S.C. from 1976-1999 and at Mariner Sands, Stuart, Florida from 1990-2010. Gail was a resident of Somerby Active Retirement Community of Alpharetta, Georgia since March, 2010.

She was a member of the Mariner Sands Chapel Choir and most recently a member of the Somerby Singers, as well as chairman of the Somerby new resident welcoming committee.

Gail is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Walter T. Lahey and Abbe’ Huyler Lahey of Pelham, N.Y.; brothers: Tabor Lahey of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Lee Lahey of Miami, Florida; husband, Donald S. McKay, Sr. of Stuart, Florida, and son, Donald S. McKay, Jr. of Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Gail is survived by her brother, Stewart Lahey of Bridgeport, Connecticut; daughter, Susan McKay of Atlanta, Georgia; son, Scott McKay of Roswell, Georgia; daughter-in-law, Brenda A. McKay and grandchildren, Brooke and Devon McKay of Dacula, Georgia.

A “Celebration of Life” memorial will be held at the Roswell Funeral Home, 900 Mansell Road, Roswell, Georgia at 11am on Saturday July 14th.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Mariner Sands Chapel, 6500 SE Congressional Way, Stuart, Florida 34997.