On December 4, 2015, McKay Donald Christian, age 69, passed away at his home due to complications from cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family as his soul winged its way into eternal life. Born on August 17, 1946, he was the sixth child to Lewis Earl and Mary LaRue Leavitt Christian.

He was a gifted athlete in football, basketball, and baseball where he was known for hitting home runs out of the park. In later years he excelled at tennis and most especially golf.

He attended the local St. George schools of East Elementary, Woodward Junior High, and Dixie High School where he served as Senior Class President. He then attended Dixie Juior College where he played baseball and football while achieving a 4.0 GPA and the school's Outstanding Science Award.

He served a two-year LDS mission to northern Germany where he was Assistant to the President. It was during his mission that he made the decision to become a doctor as he learned of the joy and importance of serving others.

He attended the University of Utah to graduate with honors and a Pre-Med degree in Medical Biology. After graduating from University of Utah School of Medicine in 1974, he attended Texas Tech University to complete his residency in Family Practice. He then joined Medical Associates in St. George, being part of the first group of doctors in town. After suffering a stroke in 2014 he retired, having practiced medicine for 40 years.

In 1970 he married Kay Pearce of Hurricane, Utah in the St. George LDS Temple. They are the loving parents to six children: Derek McKay of St. George, Darcie Lyn Chamberlain (Alton) of Blanding, UT, Rachel Marie Andrew (Matthew) of Nampa, ID, Tamara Lee Hansen (Clinton) of Bartlesville, OK, Toni Kae Brown (Peter) of St. George, and Laura Anne Shrout (David) Of St. George. He is grandfather to 17 grandchildren.

He is also survived by siblings, Paula Jolley of Santa Clara, UT, Grant (Geniel) of Bountiful, UT, Clark (Laurel) of Diamond Valley, UT, Wayne of Santa Clara, and Karen Jensen (Joe) of Bountiful, as well as Elva Christian, wife of his deceased brother Ralph, and many other brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.

McKay is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and one grandson.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many capacities including Elder's Quorum President, Bishop, High Counselor, and Gospel Doctrine teacher which was his all-time favorite calling. As an avid reader he spent his entire life enjoying books and in 1995 he realized his dream to open the used bookstore, Doc's Book Loft.

He loved and served the community of St. George with his whole heart, and as a sports enthusiast he supported local teams and often attended the high school games. Being a large contributor to the Jubilee of Trees he and his wife helped raise money for Dixie Regional Medical Center and designed many Christmas trees together. A gifted healer, he leaves behind many loyal patients and colleagues whom he loved dearly. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, doctor, mentor, teacher, and example, he will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 AM in the St. George East Stake LDS Chapel, 449 S. 300 E., St. George. Visitations will be Friday, December 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., and at the Chapel on Saturday, December 12 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, prior to services. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, UT.

Condolences may be left at spilsburymortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, (435) 673-2454.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Spectrum & Daily News on Dec. 9, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for McKay Christian

15 Entries

Hines

December 16, 2015

With sympathy wishing you many peace filled memories 2nd Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace constantly in every way. May the Lord be with all of you."

December 12, 2015

Thanks to McKay and his immediate family and the Christian families through the many years since early on in 5th and 6th ward, including music and sports (my brothers) and the spiritual aspect as well as medical. May you all feel his spirit and be strengthened by the knowledge that our Savior lives and Families are Forever. With love from a fellow classmate (Class of '64) and neighbor and friend, Ina Mae (Harmon) Tait

December 11, 2015

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Gary R. Nelson

December 10, 2015

Dear Kay and family,
McKay will greatly be missed. He is a wonderful example of service and healing. He was always an example to me. My prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Dolores Chrisman

December 10, 2015

Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. McKay's passing. We were lucky to have him as our personal doctor for many years right out of medical school. He was a wonderful and caring doctor to my daughter and her family. He saw us through many hard and difficult times. Our love and prayers go out to his wife and family. He will be greatly missed. Thank you for sharing him with the world.

Tom Taylor

December 10, 2015

McKay has been a valued friend and associate for 50 years. We will miss him greatly. There are only a few with his character. He has always displayed kindness to all he associates. We will miss him greatly, and have been saddened by the health challenges he has endured.
We will always remember him for the great man he is.
Tom and Jan Taylor

Michelle Prisbrey

December 10, 2015

Dear Kay and family,
I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. What an amazing person McKay was. I had the privilege of working with him closely in the labor and delivery unit at DRMC. He was kind, honest, sincere and caring. What a loss of a wonderful man. My love and prayers go out to your family.

Paul Graf

December 10, 2015

Family,
We are saddened at the loss of McKay. He has been a strength and force for good in the community throughout his life. I remember being on a little league team with him when Karl Brooks was our coach. McKay was, and always has been, the superstar! I believe he especially showed that in his life since his stroke. We all suffered with him when that happened. Now we suffer with you. There is never a good time to lose your husband and father. May the Lord bless you and may you have peace in your hearts.
We love you,
Paul and Ginny Graf

sherrie Harbertson

December 10, 2015

Dear Family of Dr. Christian,
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of such a great man.
My life was touched by him when as a young single Mother I moved to St. George to attend Dixie and was training to be a Scrub Tech in the OR when I fell and broke my ankle, I didn't have insurance and he happened to be in the OR that day and told me to come to his office, he confirmed a broken ankle, didn't charge me and put a cast on it and took care of me. I never got a bill from him and later on when to work for Medical Associates and enjoyed getting to know him better. He really was such a good person, I will never forget his kindness to me. May Bod bless you in your time of need.
Sincerely Sherrie Julander Harbertson
Ogden, Utah

Tim Anderson

December 9, 2015

KcKay was truly one of the most humble, friendly and diligent persons I have ever known. Always so good to our family.

Judy and Dick Grisham

December 9, 2015

Oh how we miss this great guy, dr., friend. He took care of our medical needs for 40 years. Always enjoyed my visits to him, we would get the medical out of the way, and then talk books. Our love goes out to his family.

Sabrina Alder-Woodbeck

December 9, 2015

My family (Alder's) and I are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Christian. He was a great man and doctor. He took care of 3 generations of my family my parents, he delivered both of my brothers and also took great care of me and my son. Growing up he was our family doctor.. We give our deepest condolences to the Christian family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

The Alder Family

Bob & Cindy Stratton

December 9, 2015

Our community has lost an amazing person. McKay was ever so gifted and gave to others his entire career as a doctor. He truly was a gentle giant who thought of others before himself . . . always. Heaven has received it's newest Angel with open arms. We grieve for his family and our prayers go out to all of them.

Heather Oxendine

December 9, 2015

Dr. Christian you will be greatly missed. There will never be another doctor that can live up to you. I have never been able to say enough good about this man for many reasons. We moved to St George in 1990 and took our very sick little girl to him, we had no medical insurance and no money to pay for prescriptions. He did everything he could to keep us supplied with what was needed, including sending us up North to a specialist and telling them our story. We came home with a car full of supplies to are for our child. Six years ago I started having health problems of my own and he was amazing in figuring them out and caring for me. There were of course all the years in between that I could go on about as well, but I am certain that you are aware of just how wonderful he was to his patients. The day he had his stoke was a huge blow to me, I took it as if he was a family member. Then there was the selfish part of me that realized after all these years, I was going to have to find another doctor. To his family, thank you for sharing this wonderful man with our community! He has blessed many. Rest in peace Dr. Christian! God Bless you and keep you! The Oxendine Family

Jerold & Dolores Hagen

December 9, 2015

My wife and I are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of McKay. He is a dear friend and colleague that I have had for many years. His life of steady service was a great example to the rest of us. We will miss him greatly and wish that we could be there in person to express these condolences.

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