Obituary: Mackay, Donald F.
Age 91
MacKAY,
Donald F.
(Age 91)
Don passed away on June 17, 2012, following a brief illness.
He was born in Grangeville, Idaho on November 7, 1920, and shortly thereafter moved to Spokane, where he resided the remainder of his life.
He graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in June, 1940.
Following a short stint in the U.S. Army during WW II, he received his education degree from Eastern Washington University in 1945.
Having been an elementary student at Jefferson School, he returned there to teach math, PE and science to the middle grades.
He moved to Sacajawea Junior High School when it was built and retired from teaching there in 1982.
During his teaching career, he coached wrestling, basketball, and helped his students learn photography and photo development.
Don felt that science class should not be “just another reading class” so he was remembered fondly for letting his students create all sorts of experiments in the classroom.
For many years he was involved with the Inland Empire Science Fair, serving in many capacities and finally as director.
He accompanied students to national competitions on several occasions.
In 1955 Don built a cabin on Coeur d’Alene Lake, where he spent many hours boating, and teaching his students and family how to water ski.
He generously shared the cabin with friends and neighbors, and his legacy will continue at his cabin named Killiecran Nog, a testament to his interest in Scottish lore.
Photography was an important hobby of his and he created his own dark room in his home.
Many of his photos taken during Spokane’s Expo ‘74 were printed in the newspaper.
He also spent many hours exploring abandoned mines in northern Idaho where he extracted rocks and studied their mineral formations.
A love of all animals, particularly cats, is what held Don’s heart the most.
He had his property designated as a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Hector and Edith MacKay, and his sister Evelyn Colquhoun.
He is survived by his nephew, Bruce Colquhoun and wife Sandy, and his niece, Carol Cameron and husband Russell, together with grand nieces Megan Franklin, Andrea Wilson, and Amy Colquhoun, as well as various cousins and friends.
If desired, donations may be made in Don’s memory to the Life-Time Friends Animal Sanctuary, Sandpoint, Idaho (PO Box 54, Careywood, ID 83809), where two of Don’s beloved cats still reside.
A Graveside service will be held on Friday, June 22, 2012, 4:00 pm at Spokane Memorial Gardens.