He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Lessie Belle Peeler McCay, and a son, Myron Stanley McCay, Jr. Myron was born November 5, 1911 in Pocataligo, GA., the son of the late Edward Lee and Nettie Burroughs McCay. He was also preceded in death by his 5 siblings, Rama Garrison, Ralph Leon McCay, Effie Mae Prager, Bonnie Ruth Black and First Lt. James E. McCay. His parents and siblings were devoted to assist each other to obtain a valued education.
He is survived by a daughter, Judith Ann McCay Munson; a granddaughter, Kris Munson Moss; her husband, Bob; and great-grandchildren, Miranda, Kira and Owen.
He is also survived by a nephew, Hiram O. Peeler (Beverly) of Dawson, GA; a niece, Barbara McCay of Ila, GA; nephews Ralph McCay (Debbie) of Ft. Lamar, GA, and James McCay (Kathy) of Ila, GA; niece and nephew Cathy and David Prager of Athens, GA, and Silver Springs, MD, respectively; nieces Esther McConnell (Dave) of Peachtree City, GA, and Joyce Saccio (Ed) of Havana, FL; and nephew Paul Black of Huntsville, AL. He greatly valued his family and was able to visit with many family members on his 100th birthday. His favorite pass time was working in his vegetable garden and helping Lessie with her flower garden.
He was a graduate of the University of Georgia, and obtained a MS degree in physics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a PhD degree in Physics at Ohio State University.
He pursued an academic career for 11 years at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The remainder of his career (1948-1977) was with the University of Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as Chairman of the Physics Department. After retirement from UTC, he continued to teach at the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant Training Center until 1987.
He was committed to his physics students and took great pleasure in the time he spent in the classroom, striving to provide a clear understanding of the principles of physics and to support a solid career background for each student.
In addition to his contributions to the physics department, he was an active participant in the Southeastern Section of the American Physics Society (SESAPS) from conception, serving as Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Section. He was a cosultant for the Atomic Energy Commission's Mobile Laboratory program, Director of the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science, and gave 15 years to the Chattanooga Regional science Fair. He was member of the Chattanooga Engineers Club, serving as president in 1964. Several of the many awards he received were the Francis G. Slack award for outstanding and excellent service to Physics in the Southeast (SESAPS), the Pegram award for excellence in teaching, and the Guerry Professor Award from UTC. He also held membership in Blue Key, Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma XI
Sigma.
Upon moving to Chattanooga in 1948, he and his family were members of Centenary Methodist Church. For many summers he and Lessie attended the Church on the Lake services.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 18, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 19, at the North Chapel.
Services for Mr. McCay, Sr. will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 19, at the North Chapel. Burial will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made in Myron’s name to Chattanooga Community Kitchen, 727 E. 11th Street, PO Box 11203, Chattanooga, TN 37403 or First-Centenary United Methodist Church 419 McCallie Ave, PO Box 208, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18