Arthur David McKay

Arthur David McKay passed away on August 26, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dave was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on August 23, 1939. His family often vacationed on The Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. He told stories of taking French, fixing his first motorcycle, and chasing his mom with a snake he had caught. Dave enlisted in the US Air Force in 1961, from Nova Scotia, and his received his Aircraft Fuel Maintenance training at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Dave was on the SAC 310th Field at Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, Kansas. He left the Air Force with an honorable discharge in 1964. Dave worked for Eastern Airlines at LaGuardia Airport in NYC, New York while owning a TEXACO. He then transferred to Miami, Florida where he owned his own business as a farrier in hot and cold horseshoeing. Dave modeled while riding a white stallion on the beach, and often barrel raced his horse, he'd say, "That horse could turn on a dime." Dave moved to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) to Vancouver, Washington as an employee of Piper Aircraft Sales in General Aircraft Aviation. He would fly to deliver parts to small aircraft fields in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and up to The Yukon and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dave owned his own Grumman aircraft but always flew a Piper plane on his job. He purchased two bars in Portland, Oregon in the early '80's until he decided to spend more time with his family, so he started commercial and residential inspections. In 1996, Dave moved his business to Phoenix, Arizona. Dave shared his passion for riding motorcycles with quite a few people in Arizona, acquiring a new family of friends that he loved being around. He worked inspecting buildings up until the end with the help of his youngest daughter. Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Ana Ramirez McKay, her daughter Ana Carolina Valencia, and granddaughter Emiliana Isaza. Dave has two daughters, Monica and Lisa McKay, with Coleen McKay and their grandchildren James McKay Williams, Caroline and Scarlett McKay. Dave is also survived by his brothers, Alan, Donnie, and Peter McKay, and his baby sister Kathy McKay Galbraith. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arthur David McKay, please visit our floral store.