Thomas Ivan McKay
1942-2023
Bolivar
Bolivar – Thomas Ivan McKay, of 1279 Kansas Hollow Road, passed away at home on Friday, April 14, following a brief illness.
Born in Bolivar on September 1, 1942, Tom attended Bolivar Central School and completed his education in 1961. Following high school,
Tom pursued construction work in Anchorage, AK, before enlisting in the United States Air Force there. He would go on to be stationed
in Dover, DE, until he was honorably discharged on November 2, 1965, having achieved the rank of Airman First Class.
Upon completing his military service, Tom returned home to Bolivar. He was employed by the Town of Portville as an equipment operator and
laborer, where a highlight of his career there was working through the flood of 1972 and its aftermath. On September 1, 1977, he would
begin his tenure as building and groundskeeper, and bus driver, at Bolivar Central School; a position that he would hold until his
retirement on June 29, 2005.
Over the course of his 28 year employment at Bolivar Central/Bolivar-Richburg Central School, Tom would earn the respect and friendship of
all who knew him – students, faculty, and staff alike. In 1990, Bolivar Central School’s graduating class dedicated the yearbook to him in gratitude for his
dedication to maintaining the pristine athletic fields and an orderly bus route; it was a special honor that he treasured the rest of his life.
Tom greatly enjoyed his employment at BCS/B-RCS, and he would reminisce fondly on that time throughout the rest of his life. He took great pride in
maintaining the athletic fields there, and enjoyed following B-RCS athletics long after his retirement. The special care and attention that he paid
to the athletic fields transferred to the upkeep of his own lawn after his retirement – you could often find him on his lawn mower on warm summer
days, keeping his lawn pristinely groomed.
Outside of work, Tom’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, and youth wrestling. He was a founding member of the Allegany County Anglers fishing club,
as well as one of the original coaches of Bolivar’s Junior Olympics Wrestling Program, through which he coached two of his sons.
Tom was blessed to enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement. The fun-filled life Tom lived as a young man made him well-qualified to
share his wisdom as an old man, and was the basis for many colorful stories that were always sure to make you laugh.
In a world bent on chasing material success and acclaim, Tom’s joys were simple and straightforward (much like himself) – a pot of
coffee and conversation shared on the porch with an old friend, watching the wildlife and the changing of seasons, and above all,
the pure pride and delight he took in his children and grandchildren.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 30 years, Rebecca McKay, are five children, of whom he was so proud: Sam (Kim Hughes)
McKay of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Marci (Jamie) Johnson of Bolivar, Riley (Angela) McKay of Bolivar, Denise (Randy Shayler) Auman of Wellsville, and Anthony (Erica) Auman of Eldred, Pennsylvania; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Pete (Pat) McKay of Bolivar and Les (DeAnne) McKay of Smithfield, North Carolina.
Tom was predeceased by his beloved parents, Ivan and Isabelle McKay, and siblings Betty McKay, Jerry McKay, Shirley Johnson, and Joan Pettit.
Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service honoring Tom on Saturday, April 29, at 1 p.m., at the Bolivar Country Club;
visitation will immediately precede the service, beginning at 11 a.m. A dinner reception will follow the service at 2 p.m. Burial will
be in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Bolivar, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Tom McKay Memorial Fishing Tournament, Attn: Riley McKay, 1 Horse Run Road,
Little Genesee, NY 14754.
Schaffner Funeral Home
