Obituary
Harry McKay, Lt., USN (Ret.), age 88, son of Elmer and Christina (Junek) McKay, passed away on July 22, 2012. He was born in Namakagon Township, Bayfield County, Wisconsin. In May 1943, Harry entered the U.S. Navy and he retired in October 1970. He rose from Apprentice Seaman to LT in his 27 years. Serving on several aircraft carriers, his most memorable was the USS Block Island CVE21. This carrier was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in May 1944, the only American carrier sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. The most notable duty station was a 3 year stay in Rota, Spain. After the Navy, Harry earned a BA in Education in June 1977 and a MA in Education in August 1982. After eight years in the school system, Harry resigned and he and his wife began travelling. They travelled to all fifty states and Europe.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ruby McKay and Edith Nolan, and one brother, Howard McKay. He is survived by his wife Blanche (Wheeler) McKay, sons Harry McKay, Jr. (Pamela) and Mark McKay (Darlene); daughters Christine Page and Susan Santos (Stuart); seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Harry was a member of Fleet Reserve Branch 126, the American Legion, the VFW, and the Block Island Association.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Chapel, 5753 Blanding Boulevard. Graveside services will be held at Jacksonville Memory Garden, 111 Blanding Boulevard, Orange Park, at 11 am on Friday, July 27, 2012. A Memorial Service will be held Friday evening at 7 pm on July 27, 2012 at the Lakeshore Church of Christ, 1796 Old Middleburg Road North, Jacksonville. Arrangements entrusted to: Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home Blanding Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice .
—Find A Grave, Florida Times-Union, July 26, 2012