Kelly McKay

John Kelly McKay ended his life-long battle with cancer on August 26, 2012, Although he lived only 25 years, he did more to touch and improve other people’s lives in those years than most do with considerably more time.

Kelly was born on September 29, 1986. He was stricken by P-Net cancer at the age of 4 and Leukemia at the age of 7, but beat them all with an unrelated bone marrow transplant from an Italian ski instructor and policeman, Stefano Carotta, and then appeared with Stefano on television in Italy.

But the cancer did not define him. Kelly attended Kennesaw Mountain High School where he played Lacrosse, and then went on to the University of Georgia, where he graduated on December 18, 2009, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Kelly worked his way through college serving burgers at The Grill in Athens, and many will remember the bald young waiter who always had a good word for those he served. Cancer took his hair and his health, but he never complained or felt sorry for himself, and was always upbeat. Kelly was an inspiration to all of those who knew him at places like Camp Sunshine and Coca-Cola Refreshments, where he was a Route Distributions Supervisor and his career was well underway.

Kelly loved Batman and The Simpsons, and he loved his Braves and Falcons. He was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and gentle soul, and he blessed all with his kindness and compassion that elevated him above the years of personal suffering. He showed the way to live a good life and lifted up everyone.

Kelly is survived by his mother, Paula Ballard McKay, who learned more than any of the doctors about this dreadful disease and kept him alive for an extra 21 years; his father, John McKay, his sister, Dana Alaine McKay, his brother, Colin McKay, his grandparents, Glenn Ballard and Mary McKay, and his dog who joined him late in life and was aptly named “Maebe.”

The family wants to thank the wonderful caregivers at all the hospitals, especially Scottish Rite Hospitals in Atlanta and Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio. Kelly has gone to a better place – one without suffering and pain. Even though he endured these things, he gave nothing but joy to others.

Kelly’s passing was eased by the presence of many good friends and family who were all with him in the end, including his life-long friend, Mitchell Hardage. The family takes comfort in knowing that Kelly was surrounded by those he loved.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 31, 2012, at Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 2000 Cobb Parkway SE, Marietta Georgia 30060; (770) 432-0771. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Camp Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Road, Decatur GA 30033 or www.mycampsunshine.com. Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home in charge of arrangements, www.georgiamemorialpark.com.