Tribute

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Donald MacKay, age 86, on March 25, 2024 in White Rock, B.C.

Don was pre-deceased by his dear wife Valerie, his parents David and Mary, his brother George, his brothers-in-law Don Weller, Ken Bureyko, and Murray Bureyko, his son Kevin, and his son-in-law Louis Godin.  Family members left to mourn the loss of Don are his sisters Margaret Weller in Maine and Allison Bloomer (Graham) in Winnipeg, his sister-in-law Shari MacKay in Florida and his brother-in-law Allen Bureyko in Edmonton, his daughter Gaylene Godin in Calgary, his stepson Mark Abbott (Deb) in Guelph, and his grandchildren Liam, Brittnay, Cooper, Svea and Kingsley, along with his great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Don loved to golf and curl as a young man and his summers were spent cottaging at Victoria Beach.  His welcoming attitude, positivity and jovial personality suited him well throughout a long career as a regional sales representative for General Mills.  Food and travelling distances to sell it wasn’t just a job though; Don loved to eat well and always either knew of or could suss out a good place to dine in most locales, even before the internet. He loved to tell stories (true or not) and maintained his sense of humour until the end.

Together, Don and Val enjoyed many special times with friends and family at the home they constructed at Ironwood Point in Traverse Bay, Manitoba after moving full-time to cottage country from Winnipeg later in their careers. Work-related commuting and travel still kept them both busy though, with regular retreats, AGM’s and conferences also offering up opportunities for the couple to see and enjoy many nice destinations together across Canada and the U.S.

Retired, they later embraced a new chapter in White Rock, B.C., where Don joined the local curling club and enjoyed teaching school children the sport. They also upgraded their RV, allowing for more comfortable regular leisure travels, especially with their 2 large dogs, who also transitioned with them from Manitoba to the west coast lifestyle. Family travels back east remained common, and they always found a way to make planned events work. Regular family reunions with Don’s siblings and extended families at destinations in both Canada and the U.S., were absolutely not to be missed. Don, or “Deke” as he was fondly called by his family from a young age, was always keen for the many fun ancillary events associated with these, especially if it allowed him to show off his Dolly Parton impersonation during a group skit.

Before slowing down in recent years, Don would still rise well before dawn and meet buddies for coffee regularly while most others were still sleeping.  Muffins would be brought home for the dogs, providing the perfect pretence for the frequency of these outings. He was a keen follower of most pro sports, enjoying many games and matches on TV each week year round, and this was always a good topic for conversation.

After downsizing from their condo and transitioning to Crescent Gardens, new friends and staff there rallied around Don with the sudden loss of Val back in April 2022, and kept him vibrant day-to-day until the end.  A special reach-out from appreciative family goes out to all the frontline caregivers there, as well as to those at Peace Arch Hospital and Melville Hospice as Don’s health and independent living finally gave way, requiring recent admittance to these facilities.

In remembrance of his life, donations to either the Peace Arch Hospice Society  or  Peace Arch Hospital Foundation would be appreciated at the provided links below:

Ways to Donate peacearchhospice.org

Give in Recognition – Peace Arch Hospital Foundation pahfoundation.ca