I would like to express appreciation for the outpouring of love shown to my parents over the past couple of years that my dad has been ill.  I am so grateful for family and friends who have been devoted in visits; to priesthood leaders who have made sure the sacrament was brought to my parents home every Sunday; to the many sets of missionaries who have spent Thursday afternoons in scripture study at my parent's home; and to a faithful home teacher who lives across the street, and also to care givers who offered gentle, tender care for my dad at home. Maybe your actions didn't seem like much to you, but they meant so much to my parents and to his children.  They've been ministered to with Christlike service.  That Christlike service has also been offered by my mom. I've no doubt angels were round about bearing her up. 

My dad and I were able to spend many priceless moments together especially over the past year as his abilities failed one by one.  He was patient in suffering. One thing he could do was listen to music, so I set him up with a playlist on his iPad. When I would come visit we would edit his playlist of music that transported him back to the 1940's and 50's. One song that he wanted on his list titled Nature Boy. The words express who my dad is. Imagine this being sung in the beautiful rich voice of Nat King Cole.
•
NATURE BOY
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far, very far
Over land and sea

As I remember my dad, I want you to know I am incredibly blessed to have him as my father. I truly feel I won the lottery to have been born into the home I was born into and have the parents that I do. In some ways it is hard to separate my dad from my mom because they were such a united front and brought out the very best in each other. He adored my mom and especially this past year was quite vocal in his expression of that when he and I would chat! As I have thought about my dad, these are just a few things that came to mind that I'd like to share. 
Some of my earliest memories of my dad involved early Saturday mornings watching SkyKing, and Laurel and Hardy and then having a special breakfast of pancakes or waffles. Somewhere I developed a strong dislike for the 3 Stooges. He reminded me of that recently. Thus, we never watched that show! When we lived in Fullerton he would car pool to work and can remember going down the block and meeting him at the corner. Saturday night he often fixed dinner which involved Kraft Macaroni and cheese - the kind where the cheese came in powder form in a packet and carrot and raisin salad! I remember not being too thrilled with this and vowed never to feed my own kids that. We all know how those pronouncements end up. One day with no dinner plans I decided my kids could eat Kraft macaroni also, though I did elevate them to the pre made cheese whiz in the packet! 
I never remember my dad raising his voice though we knew when we were in trouble. I learned never to be rude to my mom because that would mean a little chat out in the garage. He never tolerated that. He could get his point across in some creative ways. It was my job to iron my dad's shirts. This was prior to permanent press, when you sprinkled the shirts with water and rolled them up till ironing day. Apparently I had been lax with my job because one morning he came in my room dressed in his suit and tie but sans shirt and just his undershirt. A subtle reminder to take care of business. 
The year I graduated from high school was the year my dad graduated from Chapman University. For as long as I could remember he was taking night classes to finish his degree. He did this working full time, raising a family and active in church. 
When I was getting ready to go away to college I decided I wanted to go to UCSF. There were limited schools with my major and that was one of three. And who wouldn't want to live in San Francisco and who wouldn't want to send their teenage daughter there? Or I could go to Pocatello Idaho/ ISU. Not my idea of a good time. He didn't tell me no. He said I could go to UCSF but he would not fund that idea or I could go to Idaho and he would be happy to fund me there. He knew I had no money and so I made my choice and Idaho it was! A very subtle way to move my choice in the right direction. And a very good choice it was!
One time Maren had snuck out at night to go toilet papering. Very popular in our day. My folks found out! I think my mom came in and yelled at her, then followed by my dad who said "I'm very disappointed in your decision" and left our room. I still remember Maren saying she'd rather have mom yell at her then dad come in and in a quiet voice express his disappointment! You never wanted to disappoint him. Ever! I made many decisions based on the premise of "what would my dad think". Remembering that saved me several times! 
We spent a week each summer in Laguna Beach at Aliso Creek. There was an adjoining golf course and after a day at the beach, close to dusk, we would take all the grandkids and go golf ball hunting. It's truly amazing how many golf balls were left for lost by the golfers. One of the rules of that little venture was that the grandchild had to tithe his golf balls to grandpa! 
Everyone came out ahead. This seems like just a fun little thing until I was visiting my son in Hawaii recently. He lives on the base at KBay and it's just a 5 min walk to the beach from his house. That little stretch of beach adjoins the golf course. On my first walk down to the beach, off went two of his young sons golf ball hunting having been expertly taught by their dad, then, of course, giving him the appropriate number of golf balls. A seemingly simple joy passed on to the next generation. And it will be years before Tyler ever has to buy any golf balls. 
One of my most favorite memories involves Christmas Eve. He loved the story The Other Wiseman and would read that to us each Christmas Eve. I grew to love that wonderful story of one mans search for the Savior. He carried that tradition on with his grandkids, reading to them on Christmas Eve. Both of my kids love that story and will always think of grandpa when they hear it. And hopefully they will carry that tradition on. He truly tried to instill in us a love for the Savior!
My dad was a wonderful example of quiet service. He just served! As a child each Saturday we would drive over to my grandpas house (his dad) and visit. He wanted to check in with him and see if he needed anything. He was the youngest of 7 boys and he served his brothers cheerfully. Driving out in the middle of the desert to visit one, flying to Texas to check on another. Going to Utah and helping his brother and his wife with getting their affairs in order as they didn't have any living children. And after his brother died, calling his sister in law each week to check in on her and making sure she was cared for. He would pick up another brother and take him to lunch and help him run errands. He loved his big brothers and cousins. He was so proud to be associated with each of them.
In my dads last few years he reminded me of Job. He'd lost his sight, he couldn't eat, his body was so weakened. Yet he remained true to his testimony, it never wavered. He had a lot of time in the hospital to contemplate his life. I had some very sweet conversations with him. He was very concerned that he had been the best bishop possible. Had he done all he could? He changed the course of his prayers. Instead of asking to be healed he asked to be able to deal with his ailments and be more patient. When he pushed that button for a nurse and she didn't come immediately he reminded himself that someone else must need her more. Always thinking of others. Did he have enough faith - was that why he had been dealt this hand. He expressed his gratitude about my mom - that she was the one who helped him gain a true testimony of the gospel. She wasn't a member when they got married and they had a lot of discussions about the church. He said that he had taken his membership for granted and to be able to answer her questions he had to study it out in his own mind and gain his own testimony. My dad felt he never would have been bishop without my mom! He loved my mom with all his heart and expressed his love for her at each of my visits. He was always concerned about her welfare. And His biggest concern was "if he was worthy enough for his family? He had that backwards - it is us that are worried about being worthy to have him as our father. He truly went thru the refiners fire and came thru the other side.
On one of my last visits with my dad we were having a religious discussion and he asked me to look in a book he had on Hyrum Smith, brother to Joseph Smith. As we were talking I was thumbing thru the book and came upon a paragraph that he had highlighted. It jumped out at me because I felt it described my dad, it gave me an insight into who he was and what I, personally wanted to strife for. It was an opinion told by a little girl years later after the martyrdom of Hyrum. And I quote "that of all the men she was acquainted with she admired Hyrum Smith most for his absolute integrity and devotion to God! And the most significant pronouncement is the declaration the Lord gave about Hyrum in 1841. I the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me." That's my dad! And we can all strife for that same integrity.
Husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend - your love of the Savior is an
example to all of us on what it means to be True to the Faith! We look up to you, we honor you, we love you for your sterling example. It is my prayer that we can live up to your example! I have no doubt you are busy on the other side!

Russell Keith Mackay Memorial Service held January 16, 2016
Eulogy and Remarks from Howard Mackay
For those of you who do not know me I am Howard Mackay, the youngest son of Russ and Lovice Mackay.  On behalf of the family, I want to thank all of those who came today from near and far.  We greatly appreciate your support at this time, and are grateful for the love and friendship shown towards my father during his lifetime.   I know he treasured each of you.  Now you may have thought since Maren, Kim, and I were up here, that we might be singing a special number for you.  Well, for many of you who have sat next to us at church or heard us sing and know are musical talents, or lack of it, you will understand if I tell you that one thing my father never enjoyed was our singing.     
Words I would use to describe my father:  patient, calm, quiet, persistent, determined, easy going, humble, gentle, selfless, funny, and longsuffering.  I will go into more detail about those later.
Russell Keith Mackay was born to Daniel Thomas Mackay and Norma Christopherson on October 8, 1932 in Artesia California.  A child of the Great Depression.   He was the youngest of seven boys who grew up in a two bedroom, one bath house just a few miles from here in Cypress.  This was truly a unique time, can you imagine growing up in a two bedroom one bath house with 9 people?  It was a good thing there were no girls in the home.
He attended Cypress Elementary with his older brothers Warren and Sherman along with a couple of his cousins.  During this time his favorite hobby was building airplane models with his brothers and playing cops and robbers in the orange groves.  His fourth grade school year was one that left a great impression on him as this was the year WWII began.  It was the year where school became secondary as all activity overshadowed any school work to be done in addition to the sad separation from three of his brothers who went off to war, and the departure of two of his very best friends who were sent off to Manzanar internment camp due to their Japanese heritage.  
Many of his fond memories during this time were riding the street car with his cousin Ken.  They had convinced their mothers that they were responsible and could travel around Orange County on their own. 
They would be given 50 cents to take the street car to Santa Ana, see a movie, and get some candy often riding back with his Uncle Fred who would pay their fare back home leaving them more money to buy candy.  The World War II ended and he was excited to be reunited with his heroes who would be returning home from combat.  
During his freshman year in high school at Anaheim Union High, he became ill with an abscess on his liver.  The recovery and resulting issues related to the surgery caused him to miss a lot of school.  Although most would not look forward to repeating their freshman year in high school, my father was pretty excited about it because now he would be in the same grade as Ken.  Ken had always told him he would catch up to him in school.  The extra year of maturity paid off as his confidence grew in the classroom and on the ball field. Ken and my dad played afterschool sports all through high school and would hitch hike home after their practices.  While they seemed to struggle to get noticed and get playing time in high school, they starred in the city and church leagues.  Something that was brought up to their high school coach by a friend in hopes of helping them see more playing time.  It backfired though, as playing in leagues outside of high school was against CIF rules, and the coach refused to give a varsity to letter them.  It was during their senior year that Ken and his future wife introduced my dad to my mom, Lovice.  When being told her name was Lovice, My dad said Lovice? Is that her first or last name?  They quickly hit it off and they went to senior prom and began going steady soon after.  
Dad started working at the steakhouse at Knott's Berry Farm and he and Ken followed Warren to attend Whittier College.   He was soon able to by his first car a Chevy Club coupe for $400 and no longer had to borrow his older brothers' cars to date my mom.  They would hit all the clubs in Fullerton, Long Beach, and Hollywood to go dancing.  
Finally, the time had come.  On Christmas Eve of 1952, my father had a date with my mom, and being the romantic that he was he asked her to open the glove compartment as they drove, where she found a neatly wrapped Christmas present.  It was her engagement ring.  Since he was only making $1.05 an hour at Knott's, there were no immediate plans for a wedding.  They both had plans to graduate in 6 months.  He would be graduating from Junior College and mom from Fullerton High School.  
After graduation he found work at General Telephone where he would stay for 35 years.  He was now making a whopping $1.50 an hour, so now it was time to make the big step and start planning the wedding.  They married on August 1, 1954.  Four months later, on Christmas Eve my dad received his draft notice from Uncle Sam and had to report for duty two weeks later.  Another six months later, he was shipped off to England and my mom soon followed coming over on the Queen Mary.  They enjoyed their time in England seeing the sites locally and traveling on their free time.  There their first daughter, Kim was born in July of 1956. While he served in the Army he earned the Expert Marksman badge.  Two years after being drafted, my dad received an honorable discharge and my parents returned back to the States in time for Christmas.  
Within a few months dad was back working at General Telephone.  Where fortunately, the company had held his job while he served his country.  In July of 1960, Maren was born.  It was during mom's pregnancy with Maren when her conversion took place and she was baptized.  Two years later in April of 1962 they were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity.  
Dad continued going to school off and on during this time trying to complete his degree in Business Administration, this time enrolling at Chapman College.  
Four years after Maren's birth, I was born.  In September of 1964.  
In 1974, 15 years after starting his bachelor's degree, my dad went to the registrar to discuss his graduation from college.  The registrar left to verify his records only to come back to tell him he was 18 units short.  My dad quickly reminded him that although it was 1974, he came in under the 1959 catalog and had completed all his requirements.  The registrar didn't even have a 1959 catalog and had to go to the library to find one.  Sure enough dad was right, his persistence pursuing his education had finally paid off and he graduated.  
In 1988 and after 35 years of work, my dad finally retired from General Telephone.  He stayed retired just a few months, until he grew tired of doing the housework and cooking. He began looking to work again, and eventually joined me working at Xerox, where he worked for another 8 years.
My Father had the opportunity to travel the world. Some of the places he visited were Mexico, Panama, China, Venezuela, Russia, Norway, England, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, and Germany but those of you who know my father, know his favorite place was always home.   
My father enjoyed reading, building model airplanes for his grandchildren, jigsaw puzzles, and golf.  It was well known among the grandkids of my dad's passion for golf before his body began to fail him.  For 28 years our entire family would descend on Laguna Beach each summer.  For the grandkids, the highlight each year was the annual golf ball hunt.  The grandkids would sneak on to the course after the last golfer had played through with their baggiest pants and flashlights, suffering through ticks, poison ivy, bats, and scrapes to get as many golf balls as possible, knowing they would have to tithe their gain to grandpa.  The grandkids would unload their deep cargo pants upon their return to have grandpa sort through their collection and take his pick.  The grandkids would immediately begin their plans discussing what to wear and what to bring to improve their results for the next year.  Dad never had to buy a golf ball again.   
As many of you may know my father suffered through countless kidney stone attacks, glaucoma, and Myasthenia gravis.  It was difficult to watch as Myasthenia Gravis robbed his body of his ability to do the things and be with the people he loved.  
My dad's earthly existence ended on Sunday January 10th.  While he leaves behind his wife of 61 years, 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren with one on the way.  He is now reunited with his mother, father and five of his brothers.  I can only imagine the joyous reunion that took place in Heaven on Sunday.Things I learned from my dad.  
1.Family-he loved being with family.  He cherished his time with his brothers, his wife and children and as he grew older with his grandchildren.  That was when he was happiest.  
2.Athletic  He was an avid sports fan playing basketball, baseball and football in church and community leagues and high school.  He taught me to love the sports and the competition and be a good sport.  On a personal note he attended many of my kids sporting events and I know it meant a lot to Taylor and Kyle to have their grandparents on the sidelines supporting them and cheering them on.  He followed their high school football team until his passing, discussing the schools successful season just last week. 
3.Humble-Accept recognition when it comes but not seek it or expect it.
4.Patience- My father always gave us just enough space for to figure things out.  We always knew he was there, and he was aware of our struggles, and knew just when to jump in.  But most of all he always trusted our judgement.  
5.Calm-I remember being suspended from school for getting into a fight at lunch time.  My mom came and picked me up at school after the lunch break which then left me all day to worry about how my dad would react upon telling him.  The hour had finally come and I dragged myself into his room to tell him the news.  His reaction was not what I expected..he had one question for me about the fight who won?....there was no punishment, and nothing was ever brought up again about it.
6.To enjoy nature-I have many fond recollections of camping along the beach and also in Utah and Arizona.  
7.Selfless- He was a faithful servant of our Heavenly Father- He served many callings in the church: Elders' quorum president, counselors in bishoprics, Bishop of the Garden Grove 6th ward, ward clerk, finance clerk, high counselor, and a faithful home teacher.  
8.Persistence- He was determined to get his college degree and although it took him 15 years.He did it.  
9.Modest- he bought a 1979 green dodge dart with a white vinyl top and a bad carburetor.
10.Sense of Humor- My father had a very dry sense of humor.  Although he was very quiet, he often had a humorous comment or reply.  I know he chuckled each morning watching Maren drive the dodge dart to seminary and hearing it start and stall all the way down Lamplighter.  I'm sure he could hear Maren cursing all the way to seminary.  
11.Long suffering- My father suffered over the last few years, losing his ability to eat, walk, see, and hear.  Conditions that would have been easy for any of us to complain about, but not a negative word was ever uttered from his lips.  

I want to take a moment to thank my mom for the long hours and sleepless nights she spent caring for my father over the last several years.  I know there is no one else he would have rather had by his side throughout this time. Thank you.
To the grandchildren of Russell Keith Mackay: Tyler, Derek, Kevin, Caitlin, Trent, Taylor, Grant, & Kyle.  I want you to know how proud Grandpa was of each of you.  Wednesday prior to his passing, when Linda and I visited with him, he confided that he was a poor student.  In high school, he always worked hard enough to make honor roll which enabled him to skip his finals.  This did not serve him well as a college student, because he never learned how to study or prepare for classes, which may further explain why it may have taken him 15 years to complete his degree.  How he admired each of you in your academic successes in college and your careers.  All 8 of you have received your bachelor's degrees, and several of you have received multiple or are pursuing multiple degrees.  
I also want you to know of his testimony of prayer.  Throughout all his sufferings it would have been easy to complain, but the words he did utter testified to me of the power of prayer.  He testified how the Lord had answered his prayers and the many miracles performed on his behalf which sustained him through his physical trials.   During my lifetime I never knew my father's testimony to waver of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, or the truthfulness of the Gospel, yet it was during his physical struggles in recent years, that I saw the magnitude of his faith. 
confided that he was a poor student.  In high school, he always worked hard enough to make honor roll which enabled him to skip his finals.  This did not serve him well as a college student, because he never learned how to study or prepare for classes, which may further explain why it may have taken him 15 years to complete his degree.  How he admired each of you in your academic successes in college and your careers.  All 8 of you have received your bachelor's degrees, and several of you have received multiple or are pursuing multiple degrees.  
I also want you to know of his testimony of prayer.  Throughout all his sufferings it would have been easy to complain, but the words he did utter testified to me of the power of prayer.  He testified how the Lord had answered his prayers and the many miracles performed on his behalf which sustained him through his physical trials.   During my lifetime I never knew my father's testimony to waver of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, or the truthfulness of the Gospel, yet it was during his physical struggles in recent years, that I saw the magnitude of his faith. 
I love my father and am grateful for the example he was to me and my family.  I am grateful to each of you here today who helped and loved him along his earthly journey.  He parted from this life knowing he was greatly loved.

Sister Mackay, the one thing I'll always remembered about Bishop Mackay, was he always greeted everyone with a smile, and made you feel welcome.  To this day, I remember a youth snow trip I attended with my mother and Christi when I was about 8 or 9, and going down the hill with Howard about 2 or 3 times, despite sledding into the mud,.  I surmise, that Howard inherited a bit of Russ' concern and encouragement to still have a good time even after disaster happens.  On behalf of our family, I express my love, and our warmest thoughts are with you, Kim, Maren, Howard, and everyone in the Mackay family.

My love and sympathy to you Lovice and families.  Russell was a special person and he will be greatly missed.  The photos are a great tribute to him and all the family.

OBITUARY

Russell Keith Mackay

October 8, 1932 – January 10, 2016

Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary

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