Raymond “Mac” McVey, of Mora, died on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. He was 93 years old.
MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at Hillman Baptist Church in rural Mora with Rev. Randy Strom officiating.
Memorials preferred to Knife Lake Sportsmen’s Club and Hillman Baptist Church.
Raymond “Mac” McVey, of Mora, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. He was 93 years old.
Mac was born on September 20, 1920 in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps before joining the US Army, where he was a Staff Sergeant in Kodiak, Alaska during WWII. In 1944, Mac met Shirley and the couple wed. Together they raised four wonderful children.
Mac worked for the Minneapolis-Moline and White Farm Equipment for 34 years. After retirement, he and Shirley moved to their lake home in Mora. There they were active with the Knife Lake Sportsmen’s Club and the Seven-County Seniors. Mac was also a member of the American Legion for over 50 years. He and Shirley were married for 68 years before she passed in 2012.
Mac was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; parents, John and Corabelle (Stone) McVey; sister, Elizabeth Flathers; and brothers, Bernard, Paul, and Marvin.
He is survived by his children: Karen Anderson, Carla McVey, Bruce (Nancy) McVey, and Becki Nesbit; 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth Chermak; other loving relatives and friends.
Our family didn’t have the blessing of knowing Mr. Ray until he was about 90 years, but even so we are blessed with memories of his love. Mr. Ray and Mrs. Shirley had such a gift of hospitality, and always demonstrated delight when we dropped in for a visit. Their welcome was warm and their love for each other was so evident. We always enjoyed Mr. Ray’s generosity, stories, and smiles. It ministered to me (Ken) especially to observe the softness of his heart and the way he showed his love for his dear wife. Mr. Ray was such an active person and a hard worker. He was always busy doing something useful, yet when visitors stopped by, he dropped everything and could sit for hours and visit, never making you feel that he had other more important things to do. We will miss him! We are thankful to have known him.
We are thankful, also, for the blessing of getting to know Bruce, Nancy, Becky and Carla, and are praying for the family as they grieve the loss of Mr. Ray and remember his life. We pray that the Lord would comfort and minister to hurting hearts, and that His Spirit would touch and open eyes with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. We are thankful that God, the author of faith, is faithful in all circumstances. As we look to God, may those who are sorrowing be comforted & blessed today.
So sorry for your loss! Ray was a wonderful man and we enjoyed knowing him for many years through the Knife Lake Sportsmen’s Club. Both he and your mom always made everyone they met feel like a friend. We will miss him and will keep your family in our prayers for comfort at this very sad time.