Melvin Orvie McKay

Melvin McKay, a lifelong resident of Dorris California. died March 12, 2022, at the age of 93. Graveside services will be held at the Picard Cemetery in Dorris, on Saturday, March 19, at 2:00PM.

Melvin was born and raised at the McKay Ranch, located on Sheepy Island, east of Dorris. He married Clydine Walling in 1951 and they raised four children at the same family ranch.

When his father, John, passed in 1966, Melvin helped his mother, Addie, run the ranch until her death in 1980. He and his brother, Robert, then formed the "McKay Ranch". Melvin was enormously proud of the fact that the ranch has stayed in the family for four generations.

Melvin was honored with the "Cattleman of the Year" award in 2008, by the Siskiyou County Cattleman's Association, an honor he was immensely proud of.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents: John and Addie; brothers Andrew, and Robert; son Tim; and wife of 64 years, Clydine McKay.

He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Richard Engel; sons and daughter-in-law, Russel and Carol McKay, and Tom McKay; sisters June Simpson and Della Kirby; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren, and two great-great granddaughters.