Evelyn McKay

Evelyn S. McKay passed away on May 27, 2025. She died peacefully at her home one year after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

Evelyn is survived by her two sons, Scott and Russell Heines, Scott’s spouse Emma, Russell’s spouse Ingrid and their two children, Jacqui and Alison, and Scott and Russell's father, Jesse Heines. Evelyn also has a niece, Anna, and nephew, Steven, from her sister Irene’s family.

Evelyn was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in August 1947. In school, she was on the track and tennis teams. In 1970, she moved to Moscow to teach at the Anglo-American School. While there, she met Jesse Heines who was also teaching at the school. They were married in August, 1971, in Edinburgh. From 1970 through 1972, Evelyn and Jesse travelled throughout the Soviet Union, Scandinavia, central Asia, and Europe.

In 1972, Evelyn and Jesse moved to the US and lived in Orono, Maine. Evelyn continued teaching, first in Old Town, Maine and then in Concord, Massachusetts until around May 1975. Scott was born in October 1975 and Russell was born in May 1978, and Evelyn took time off from her career to raise her family. Evelyn and Jesse decided to separate in 1984, but remained friends as they continued to raise their children together.

In 1983 Evelyn went back to school for a technical writing program at UMass Lowell. This was the start of a new career where Evelyn worked as a technical writer. She worked at Digital Equipment Corporation for 12 years, followed by time at Lotus, then Rational, and finally at IBM. After retiring in 2010, Evelyn moved to Salem. Evelyn found a community in Salem and worked part-time at the Peabody Essex Museum and at Jolie’s Tea Shop. She also became an avid birder who was very active with the local birding community.

Evelyn touched many people’s lives through her many different activities. Over the years she enjoyed many trips back to Edinburgh and the UK, to California to visit Scott and Emma, and multiple birding trips around New England. But she was always happiest when she could spend time with her grandchildren. Evelyn refused to let cancer control her life, and continued to live her life on her own terms until the end.

Evelyn’s last wishes were to be cremated and have her ashes scattered at one of the places she loved the most, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport, Massachusetts. For anyone wishing to pay their respects, there is an observation deck on the Pines Trail that has a plank with her name on it.