 McCay enjoyed robust health most of his life . On July 26 , 1934 , he complained to his wife of a severe headache . To his horror , he found his right arm — his drawing arm — was paralyzed . He lost consciousness and was pronounced dead later that afternoon , with his wife , children , and son @-@ in @-@ law by his side . He had died of a cerebral embolism , and was buried at the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn in a family plot . He had a Masonic funeral in his home , attended by his newspaper colleagues , Hearst and his son , and the Society of Illustrators , among others . 
