Roberta Mckay

Roberta Florence Thomas McKay, passed peacefully, October 9, 2016 at the age of 95.Roberta was born November 27, 1920, near Monte Vista, CO on a ranger station. Her father, Cassius Thomas, was the forest ranger. Her family moved from Colorado to California in 1924. Though very young, she recalled the overly laden Model T chugging over deserts and mountains. In Lemoore, CA, her father was Constable and her mother, Gladys, was friend to the Asian community. Roberta inherited her mother's appreciation for other cultures and people. Depression years inspired young Roberta to gather homeless folks on her way home from school, seating them in the kitchen while she and her mother prepared meals. Roberta discovered old 19th Century books in the attic, an experience that led to a life-long passion for research.Graduating from Lemoore High School in 1938, she attended College of Pacific, Stockton, CA. On summer breaks, she worked in Lake Tahoe's rustic kitchens and led pack horses for the forest service. She received a Bachelors in Music, excelling in Piano and Voice. Her high Soprano was often requested for church and civic gatherings. Most loved was her rendition of Ave Maria. As WWII built in Europe, she worked for US Army Air Forces Command HQ in Sacramento, in a top secret office tracking suspicious codes. A visit to Stockton, where her parents lived, had an unexpected surprise. Unknown to her, a bedroom was rented to a young man who contracted for the USAAF. Edwin McKay had already fallen in love with Roberta's hallway photo. She was with her mother when Ed entered the kitchen after work. She liked to tell of the flour on her nose and her shock seeing a handsome man who couldn't find his voice when he finally saw her. Pearl Harbor was attacked Dec 7, 1941. Ed's heavy construction skills sent him urgently to Hawaii to clear the Harbor. Roberta transferred through Mare Island, Vallejo, CA to Naval Headquarters in Seattle, sailing up the West Coast in a blacked-out fleet. Eventually she sailed to the Hawaiian Territory to help open Pearl Harbor's Personnel Office, via another destroyer convoy, a blacked-out arduous zig-zag across the Pacific. She married Ed in Honolulu and remained there for the rest of the War. The infamous tidal wave of 1946 forced Roberta and her new baby, Christine, up Diamond Head where she and neighbors watched Waikiki's devastation. Late 1946, the McKay's sailed to the Mainland aboard troop ship USS President Hayes, migrating to north Seattle. They bought an old log home which had served as a horse shelter. Ed's skills and Roberta's creativity transformed the old cabin into sweet family memories. Two sons, Robert in 1948 and Thomas in 1950 were born. Moving to Bothell, WA in 1959, Ed built a new home, Roberta decorated it with beautiful weavings from her giant loom.She was a dental assistant and kept books as the kids graduated from high school. Roberta and Ed settled in Corvallis, MT in 1970. Life took turns and after an incredible life together they parted ways, but kept in contact.Her music, artistic eye, talents, and zest for life kept her active and unsurpassed in energy. Roberta had an unquenchable passion for the spiritual, guiding her on many soul treks. She found Sathya Sai Baba and made several pilgrimages to India. That path was her joy, collecting life-long friends of shared spirituality. One of the last things she touched was a beloved piano, music still lingering on her fingertips when she departed. She disliked goodbyes, preferring, Aloha, Aum Sai Ram. To our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and teacher we say, Aloha, Aum Sai Ram, Vibrant Lady! The rainbow has dipped and gathered you to higher adventures.Roberta was preceded in death by brothers, William and Richard; first love, Edwin McKay; son Robert McKay; granddaughter Marilyn McKay; and grandson Daniel McKay.She is survived by her son, Thomas McKay of Missoula; daughter, Christine McKay of Cascade; Adopted daughter, JoNell Broumley of Olympia, WA; 7 grandchildren, Robert Tweed of Ellensburg, WA Sandra McKay of Lakeside, CA, Aiden Keyes Axthelm of Mt. Vernon, WA, Aaron Keyes of North Salt Lake, UT, Tatiana McKay of Portland, Clinton McKay of Helena, Scott McKay of Missoula; 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter's upcoming birth, near Roberta's 96th birthday; daughter-in-law Leza Mckay; son-in-law David Sanford; nieces, nephews, spiritual daughter, Wendy Harmsworth; beloved cat, Bumper; and many treasured friends and caretakers.Cremation as she requested. A private family gathering was held.Donations to the Local Food Bank are suggested.