Ralph James MacKay

Ralph James MacKay (83), of Novi, Michigan, passed away on August 15, 2023, from long-term after effects of cancer treatment. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Ralph, known as Jim to family and friends, was born on September 29, 1939, in Cass City, Michigan to Evelyn Lucille and Robert John MacKay.
He was raised in Cass City and told stories of the fun (and a little bit of trouble) that he would get into with his brothers. He received a full scholarship to study engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After 3 semesters, he returned home to start his career in the meat industry. Starting with the town butcher, he was very social and inquisitive, always learning more about the process. Through his connections, he accepted jobs in meat packing, meat processing, and eventually manufacturing and installing smoke houses and other industrial equipment for Gladd Industries in Detroit.
He married Ruth Gaffney in 1960, and they moved around through Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan with the job opportunities, but settled in Novi, Michigan, to raise their family. Building his career and providing for his family was of utmost importance.
At Gladd, he started out as a technician to keep the gas-fired equipment running, but rapidly increased his duties and responsibilities. He became known as the go-to "control guy." His favorite project was when he sold and built a conveyor-based smoke house that had multiple products on the same line, which had never been done before. It was so successful, that the client granted him with the "Man of the Year" award at the company Christmas party. This job led to contracts with Oscar Meyer, Hormel, and others, in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Japan. Each job required long term supervision and problem solving ingenuity unique to the job site. The family often traveled to these locations, if over the summer, culminating in a multi-week visit to Japan in 1980. Jim was promoted to President in 1982. He subscribed to the belief, "If you have a job you love, you will never work a day in your life." And Jim loved his job.
After leaving Gladd in 1987, Jim tried his hand at a few different businesses and also consulted in the smoke house industry.
Jim's inquisitive nature, helpful attitude, and hands-on problem solving, would also lead him to many home remodeling projects both for himself and others. Quick to lend a hand, he would ruminate on a challenge presented, often coming back with a solution, schematics drawn up in Autocad, and links to where to buy supplies. Then, he'd be ready to help with the labor.
Jim was always a first-adopter, building his first home computer in 1975 after reading about it in a magazine. The IMSAI 8080 was at the forefront of home computing, and enthralled all 3 of his children, as well; Ann, Deborah, and Jim all went on to achieve degrees and careers in the computing tech industry. All his life, he would learn and adopt new technologies as they came along.
Jim also knew how to have fun. Holding season tickets to U of M basketball and football games for many years, Jim and Ruth hosted numerous friends at home and at those events. While "a game is just a game" when they lost, he really enjoyed it when the Wolverines won.
Jim spent too much time in and out of the hospital in his last few months, but never lost his sense of humor. He lightened the mood by cracking jokes with his family, friends, and caregivers, and you could enjoy the sparkle in his eye when he'd give a quick wink to let you know you were appreciated.
Jim is survived by his wife, Ruth, and 3 children and their partners, Ann MacKay and Pete Wiley, Deborah MacKay and Josh Anderson, Jim and Kristen MacKay, as well as 5 grandchildren, Kyle and Jenna Caro, and Anthony, Michael, and Alexandra MacKay. He loved his children and grandchildren, and took great pride in their accomplishments.
Please visit with the MacKay family on August 26 at 10 am-12 pm at O'Brien & Sullivan Funeral Home, 41555 Grand River Avenue, Novi. A celebration of life will follow at 12:00 pm. A second gathering in Cass City is planned for 8/28. All are welcome to attend either gathering. Contact rjm.memorial@gmail.com for more information.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jim's name to any of these causes:
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
Angela Hospice www.angelahospice.org
Hillsdale College www.hillsdale.edu
College of the Ozarks www.cofo.edu