Bobby was born on January 3, 1930 in Winston County to Robert Samuel and Amanda Gertrude Eaves Carr McKay. His life began in a time where hard work and grit were needed for survival. The values of integrity, dependability, compassion, kindness, generosity and loyalty were developed in him from early on. Growing up on a farm developed his strong work ethic. He had many stories about plowing, growing crops and caring for cows, horses, mules and chickens. He attended and graduated from Ellison Ridge School. While there he played basketball and it was at a basketball game in Mashulaville, that Dot Suttle captured his attention; they dated and later married in 1950. All three of their children, Rickey, Ernie and Leasa grew up a few yards from where he grew up.
Bobby thoroughly enjoyed his work at Fair Lumber Company and then Georgia-Pacific where he was a land and timber buyer. He made a lot of friends and got to see a lot of Mississippi and Alabama. He would replay many timber cruises, characters he met and deals done. Equally satisfying was his sweat and work on our cattle farm, huge garden and orchard. He enjoyed genealogical research and retelling family stories. He was open about his faith and trust in the Lord and supported Ellison Ridge Baptist Church and later First Baptist Church in Louisville. He held many leadership positions as a teacher, deacon, committee chairman among others and he was a Gideon.
He leaves behind a host of family members and friends who treasure him and their memories of him. He is survived by his sons, Rickey (Rachel) McKay and Ernie (Donna) McKay and daughter, Leasa McKay, grandchildren, Ericka McKay Miller (Jay), Bobby Denton McKay (Amy), Heather McKay Studdie (Bo) and Brittany McKay Fancher (Lee) and great-grand-children, Celeste Clayton, Nicholas Studdie, Caleb Studdie, Abby Studdie, Prasaus Fancher, Mary Lawrence McKay and Lydia McKay. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy Suttle McKay.
Bobby McKay’s family welcome you to share in a celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, you many donate to Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society or to the Ellison Ridge Cemetery Trust Fund.
