LTC (Ret) Ivor W. McKay Sr.

Ivor W. McKay Sr. was born on 25 April 1920 in Glasgow, Scotland, and spent his early years growing up in the Lakeland, Florida area. Ivor enlisted in the Army in 1939, and held the distinction of holding nearly every enlisted, noncommissioned, Warrant Officer, and Officer rank from Private (E1) through Lieutenant Colonel.

He served in a variety of Enlisted, Warrant Officer, and Commissioned Officer specialties, most prominently Infantry, Field Artillery, and Adjutant General. A highly-decorated Soldier, Lieutenant Colonel McKay was seriously injured in combat in Germany during World War II, spending over 24 months in recovery. He retired from active duty in December, 1967, and settled in his Copperas Cove home where he resided until his death.

Lieutenant Colonel McKay passed away peacefully in his home in Copperas Cove on 1 April, 2017, surrounded by his grandson John and John’s wife Tammy. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 50 years Margret “Peg” McKay, his brother Murray, his sister Beth, Marge, his daughter Peggy Crowder and his son-in-law Tom Crowder. He is survived by his sons John McKay and Ivor McKay Jr., as well as 9 nieces and nephews, 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren.

Ivor was very active in the Central Texas community. An Eagle Scout himself, Ivor was active in the Central Texas Area Boy Scouts of America, personally managing the Eagle Scout program for many years and eventually earning the coveted Silver Beaver award for his lifelong service to Boy Scouts. He was also very active with III Corps and Fort Hood units, and served for many years in both the First Cavalry Division Association and the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel McKay personally attended every departure and welcome home ceremony until his health prevented it.

Lieutenant Colonel McKay and his wife Peg will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. His local Memorial Services will be held at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove at 1:00 PM on 5 April 2017.