Kathryn Anita Mckay

Kathryn “Kay” McKay, 95, of Bozeman, passed away Sunday, December 6, 2015. She was born June 13, 1920 in Butte, MT to George and Mary (Ronan) Berry. She graduated from Butte High in 1937 and from St. James Hospital School of Nursing in 1941. Kay completed her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Montana State University. She received her certification as a cardiac care nurse from the University of Utah.



Kay married Joseph McKay on December 12, 1942 in San Francisco, CA. Kay lived in Butte, MT, San Francisco, New London, CT, Idaho Falls, ID, and settled in Bozeman, MT after World War II.



Kay was a nurse for 70 years, worked in local clinics and Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, and retired from active nursing duty in 1984.



Kay gave of her time and talent freely, volunteering with the American Red Cross blood donor program and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.



Kay was a devout Catholic and loved her Catholic Community of Holy Rosary. At Holy Rosary she was a member of the Foresters, served as an officer in the Altar Society, and was a Eucharist Minister to the Sick for 14 years.



Quote from Kay:

“I could never do fancy work (like crochet), but I could sew when necessary. My family said “but you could talk,” which was an advantage to teaching as a cardiac nurse specialist and very often I was asked to be the Mistress of Ceremony. These special times were a great joy for me. I was blessed with a sense of humor – which made my life easier”.



She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, her brothers, Robert and Walter Berry, and her sister, Marion Berry of The Sisters of Charity. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Eileen Knoll.



Survivors include her sister, Eileen Tourikis, and sister in-law, Carol Berry, both of Butte, MT, sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Joseph and Sharon McKay of Stockton, CA, Kenneth Patrick and Sandy McKay of Pittsburg, PA, George Timothy and Deanna of Columbus, MT, James Anthony and Diana McKay of Corvallis, MT, son in law, Kary Knoll, of Baraboo, WI, and her devoted friend and companion, Sandy McKay. Kay was blessed with 18 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Kay was also blessed with many nieces and nephews from both the McKay and Berry families.



A Rosary Service will be held on Wednesday, December 9 at 5:00 PM at Dahl Funeral Chapel followed by a Vigil Service at 5:30 PM. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 10:00 AM at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Interment will follow the Mass at Sunset Hills Cemetery. All are invited to a reception and lunch, sponsored by the Foresters, at the Church after interment. An additional celebration of Kay's life will be held next summer.



Memorials may be made to the “Burn the Mortgage Campaign” at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, P.O. Box 96, Bozeman, MT 59771.