Norman D. "Mickey" McKay

Norman "Mickey" D. McKAY Norman "Mickey" D. McKay, 68, passed away Feb. 20, 2003, peacefully at the home he designed and built in his beloved Belfair after a courageous battle with cancer. He reunites with his loving and devoted mother, Elenore A. McKay, his father, James C. McKay Jr., his sister, June McKay, and his three brothers, Melvin, James III and Robert. Mickey is survived by his lovely and loving sister, Lu Ortis, of Yuma, AZ., his four children that made him burst with love and pride; Susan A. Starr, of El Paso, TX., Cathy L. McKay, of Federal Way, Norman D. McKay Jr., of McChord AFB, WA., and David S. McKay, of Seattle WA. "Gramps" is also survived by 10 grand children and three great-grandchildren. "Uncle Mickey" will also be missed by his three nephews and two nieces. "Stormin' Norman" will be missed by his close Lynch Cove neighbors, whom were like family to him as he was known as the "neighborhood grandpa," as well as his fellow competitors in bowling centers from Bremerton to Seattle. Born the youngest of six children in Taylor, WA, on March 15, 1934, Mickey's family moved to the South Park area of South Seattle in Mickey's youth. He excelled in baseball at every level he played, thanks to the coaching and instruction of his brother, Jim. Mickey's fastball and knuckleball earned him top honors at Cleveland High School, where he graduated from in 1952. Also in high school, his talent in woodworking began to blossom. Many pieces of furniture he made in shop classes are still being used by family members today and will be handed down for generations to come. After high school, Norm served in the U.S.Army during the Korean War. After returning from the Army, he worked on the B-52s for Boeing. While at Boeing, he took night classes for cabinetmaking. Only after a few years at Boeing, Norm began his professional woodworking career and began working at Totem Lumber in Seattle and then at Ambaum Cabinets in Burien, where he would start a lifelong friendship with his "other brother" Dale Fehr. At the same time, Norm started his own cabinet shop -- Norm's Quality Cabinets out of his West Seattle home. After Ambaum, Norm was a woodworking instructor at the Seattle Opportunity Industrial Center. Norm moved to Belfair in 1975 and began working at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the carpentry shop soon after. In 1978, Norm accepted a job supervising the carpentry shop at the Coast Guard Support Center in Downtown Seattle until he retired on April 1, 1996. Through the years, Norm made dozens of China cabinets, kitchen and bathroom cabinets for friends and relatives that were true works of art. In his magical hands, woodworking became an art form. Norm enjoyed Major League baseball in Seattle. In 1969, he was a proud member of the Ray Oyler Fan Club of the Seattle Pilots, attending dozens of games. In 1977, Norm, along with his mom, attended the very first Seattle Mariners baseball game in the Kingdome. After he retired, you could find him attending spring training in Arizona or riding the train to Minnesota where he loved to track down his family history. The McKay family would like to thank Linda and Kenni Solene and Pam Christophorson, for their love, tenderness and support in helping to take care of Norm in his final month at home. The McKay family would also like to thank Dr. Joe Johnson and Nurse Wynn Roth for their special care of Norm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Providence Sound Home Care and Hospice, 2146 W Railroad Ave., Ste. C, Shelton, WA. 98584. Memorial Services and Graveside Services will be held Feb. 27 at 12:30 p.m. at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd. So., SeaTac WA.