MARGARET JANET (BURNS) MCKAY

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MARGARET JANET (BURNS) MCKAY December 25, 1919 - June 28, 2010 Margaret passed away peacefully at Rock Lake Health District Hospital, Crystal City, Manitoba at the age of 90 years. Margaret was born in Wood Bay, Manitoba, in the Pilot Mound area, to parents Mary Osborne and George Burns, and was the oldest of nine children. She attended Wood Bay School and later helped care for her siblings on the Burns family farm. She married Gordon McKay in 1949 and farmed north of Pilot Mound, raising six children at the McKay family homestead. She later put her culinary skills to good use at Prairie View Lodge in Pilot Mound as a cook, retiring at the age of 75. She moved to the town of Pilot Mound in 1988, settling on the street named after her beloved husband Gordon. Margaret had many interests including gardening, landscape painting, playing bingo and going on casino bus tours. She also loved to talk on the telephone and was always the point of contact for the latest family news and events. Margaret loved to travel the countryside, visiting family farms and recounting area history. She was also very active in the community - from baking her famous apple pies for fundraisers to driving her friends to appointments and bingo. You could sure count on Margaret for an uplifting laugh and some cheer in your day! Margaret, you will be missed dearly. Margaret is survived by her daughter Ruth (Don) Tomac of Winnipeg; four sons, George (Jan), Eric (Pam), Bruce (Joyce) and Calvin (Tracy) of Pilot Mound; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Leona (Bill) Phin; brothers Jim (Esther) Burns and Bruce Burns; sister-in-law Sue Burns, all of Pilot Mound; and brother Jack (Dixie) of Calgary. She is predeceased by her husband Gordon in 1976; daughter Sheila Leblanc in 2008; sister Clarice Skot and her husband Frimoth of Calgary; brothers Allan and Bill Burns; sister Gwen and her husband Jim Moore; and sister-in-law Faye (Bruce) Burns. Margaret's family would like to thank the staff at Rock Lake Health District Hospital for their compassionate care. Memorial services will be held at Pilot Mound United Church on Friday, July 2, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., with luncheon to follow at the Kinsmen Hall. If desired, tributes in memory of Margaret may be made to the Pilot Mound and District Foundation, Box 39, Pilot Mound, MB, R0G 1P0, 204-825-2587. Graham's Funeral Services, 204-825-2848.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 30, 2010