CALVIN MCKAY

Calvin Ferold "Mutt" McKay, 73, died Jan. 18, 2001, from injuries received in a vehicular accident at Mile 49.5 Parks Hwy., near Pittman Road.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Assembly of God Church, 125 W. Glenwood (by the Wasilla Senior Center), in Wasilla.

Mr. McKay was born Dec. 7, 1927, at Elmore City, Okla., where he grew up. He moved to California as a young man, living and working in the Lamont/Bakersfield area.

He moved to Alaska in 1965, and worked with Lafflin Brothers as a driller of Susie #1. He hurt his back and went back to California. He came back to Alaska in 1966, and worked in the Inlet and worked his way up to a tool pusher.

He married Belinda 19 years ago, on April 20, 1981. He worked in the oil fields until he started his own well-drilling business in 1976, which he operated until his death.

His family wrote: "Relatives and friends fondly called him "Mutt" from the day they met him. Mutt was the baby of the family and was much loved and admired by all. His outgoing personality and free-hearted giving will remain indelibly imprinted on all who knew him. He was always quick to give of his time and money to help anyone in need. Making each family member feel special was a talent only he had. He once remarked that, ‘I always tell each one of my sisters she is my favorite. Then they can argue over which one I really like the best. That way, they will always think of me.' Mutt was, with a smile, always able to rise above any adversity that life threw his way."

He was a member of the Apostolic Worship Center, and an avid fisherman who loved to go after halibut and distributed his catch among all their friends. He was also a car collector. His Corvette was his raciest acquisition, but he only kept it a year as he didn't want to drive it in the winter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, H.T. and Pearl McKay; sister, Charlotte Jackson; and son, Johnny McKay.

He is survived by his wife, Belinda McKay of Wasilla; son, Jimmy McKay of Odessa, Texas; grandsons, Brian McKay of Anchorage, and Devin McKay and Duston McKay of Odessa; sisters, Marie Maxwell of Kingfisher, Okla., Cecil Maxwell of Alexandria, La., and Ruby Pickens of Elmore City, Okla.; brother, James McKay of Moore, Okla.; nieces, Wanda Wilson, Vonceal Hatfield, Trena Walls, Recea Stitt, Mary Ray, Lois Rice, Marcena Henderson, and Karen Primrose; and nephews, John Maxwell, Tommy McKay, Harold Parkey and Gary Parkey.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory of Wasilla.