William James "Bill" McKay was born on May 22, 1931, in Micawber, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Sunday, May 3, 2009, at his home in Jay, Oklahoma, at the age of 77.

Bill, the oldest son of William Henry "Buck" and Katherine Grace Nolan McKay, was a resident of Jay, Oklahoma.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and began his career at Phillips 66 Petroleum Company as a "jug hustler." He eventually worked his way up to Company Observer. As a result of moving with the Phillips 66 Company a total of twenty seven times, the McKay family lived in numerous northern and southern states.

Bill and his family moved to Bartlesville in the late 1960s and he retired from Phillips following thirty years of service.

He married Myrle Young Vowell in April 1996.

He spent the remainder of his retired life at Grand Lake fishing, camping with his grandchildren and hosting many family reunions.

Bill was a member of the First Assembly of God in Jay. He was loved as a husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, and a true friend to all who met him.

His parents, one son, James Anthony in 1953 and one brother, Bob, preceded Bill in death.

Survivors include wife, Myrle McKay of the home, daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Alan Durham of Oklahoma City and Mary Denise and David Boynton of Tulsa, son and daughter-in-law, William Lewis and Lisa McKay of Springfield, Missouri, brothers and sisters-in-law Ben and Evelyn McKay of Prague, Don and Valera McKay of Newcastle and Tom and Lorrie McKay of Oklahoma City, sisters and sons-in-law, Sherri and Jim Collins and Tammie, Chuck Strawn of Montgomery, Alabama and Clara Bell of Norman; grandchildren, Jeremy Burton, Anthony Durham, Alex Durham, Jessica Burton, Benjamin James McKay and Thomas Keith McKay, great-grandson, Joshuah Alan Caress and the mother of his children, Mary "Red" Case Barlow of Bartlesville.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague with Rev. Starland Davis officiating.

Interment will follow at the Prague Cemetery.