Thomas W. McKay

McKAY, Thomas W. Beloved husband of: Mary Lee McKay (12 years) Adored father of: Chris (Joe) Baxter, Larry (Christina) McKay and Tim (Carmella) McKay Loving Stepfather of: Bob Barnes, Bill (Roxanne) Barnes, Lisa (Stan) Babinski, Cheryl Huddlestone, Bradley Thompson, Kim Ford and Lori (Jim) Fisher. Proud Grandfather of: Kara Cumming, Aaron Cumming and Nathan (Kaitlyn) Baxter; Alexis, Taylor, Lauren, Austin and Ryan McKay; Victoria, Ross and Kayla McKay; Rob (Kyla) Barnes and Niki (Jason) Rose; Brandon (Lisa), Tyler and Brittany Barnes; The late Stanley and Scott (Becca) Babinski; Danny and Brian (Jessica) Huddleston, and Julie (Luke) Pauley; Lauren (Mike) Nowicki, Tricia (Brad) Perish, Cristy Lundh and Kammie Berns; Joseph (Caroline) and Mike Pampalona and Brooke Ford. Cherished Great-Grandfather of: Kennedy; Emerson, Everett, Harrison and Lilliana; Emma, Flynn, Scout, Alexander; Leo, Dawson, Briggs; Cameron, Cooper; Ethan, Allison, Owen, Dylan; Aggie, Ellie; Roy and Wes. Dear son of: The late Thomas and Florence McKay Dearest brother of: The late Lois McKay Background: Tom was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 10, 1930. He graduated from Guardian Angel Grade School in 1944 receiving the American Legion Award for the individual most likely to succeed. Tom went to University of Detroit High School and although he was not allowed to try out for the high school athletic teams due to a thyroid condition, he played in their intramural basketball league without his parents knowing and was named to all-star teams his junior and senior years. After enrolling in the University of Detroit and later Walsh College, Tom dropped out of school to join the Navy in 1951. After boot camp, Tom ended up at the Great Lakes Naval Base where he met Louise (Lou) Martini who worked in the same building. They dated about a year and were married on February 27, 1953. Tom was assigned to the USS Baltimore that was stationed at the Charlestown Naval Yard near Boston. Lou moved to Charleston where they lived for seven months until Tom was shipped out in March 1954. They had their first child, daughter Chris in September 1954 while Tom was still at sea. Son Larry was born in May 1956 and Tim later followed in September 1962. As many of those in his generation, Tom was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and loved to tell stories about his tours and in particular, being the catcher on his ship’s fast-pitch softball team that played teams around the world and only losing one game in two years (by score of 1-0). Tom played multiple sports at Great Lakes Naval Base and he was labeled the “Bob Mathias of the Great Lakes” in a Naval Base newspaper article highlighting his overall athletic ability. In 1976 Tom married Bonnie Barnes who was herself a very accomplished bowler on the women’s side. They successfully blended two families together and they were married for 31 years until Bonnie passed away in 2007. Tom remarried in 2010 at the age of 80 to Mary Lee Thompson who helped him enjoy the last 12 years of his life to its fullest. They enjoyed so many things together including bowling, golf, playing cards and going out to eat at Applebee’s which was the site of their first date. It initially took some coaxing by daughter Chris and her friend Kim to get both of them to meet, but that meeting resulted in an incredibly strong union between two people that deserved that happiness. Tom would often say how very fortunate he was to make his career in the bowling industry which he truly loved. He started work at the Detroit Bowling Association as the office manager in 1955 and in 1965 became the Secretary-Treasurer of the Bowling Association and remained in that role until he retired in 1995. Tom was inducted into the Detroit Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1980 and in 1996, both he and wife Bonnie were inducted into the Michigan State Bowling Hall of Fame. On the national level, Tom was named 10th Vice-President of the American Bowling Congress (ABC) in 1981 and served as ABC President from 1992-1993. Tom was quite accomplished on the lanes as well. Tom joined the prestigious Detroit All-Star Classic in 1962 and bowled in the league until 1981 having a cumulative 200.57 average over 1,917 games. During that time, Tom bowled for Vesco Realty, Biffs, Coca Cola and Goebel teams. He carried his highest single season average of 221 in 2001 at the age of 70 in a Friday Trio league. Tom bowled in the annual ABC tournament for 47 years before stopping at age 75 in 2006 and he was very proud of his ABC tournament career average of 192.94. He also bowled for 24 years in the East Side Major Classic League at Sterling Lanes where he had a cumulative average of 205. Tom had six 300 games, four 299 games and four 800 series to his credit. He often told the story of his most enjoyable year bowling which was the 1974-75 season when he teamed-up for one year with his father Tom and his son Larry in the Eastland Senior House League. They won the championship in their only season together as Tom’s father passed away two weeks after the conclusion of the season. Tom was nearly as accomplished in his second favorite sport of golf. He belonged to Gowanie Golf Club for 20 years and won the First Flight Championship in 1988. He had three hole-in-ones and although he typically played in the 10-handicap range, he got down to his career low 5-handicap in 1998. Tom also was a card-trick enthusiast and loved entertaining his friends after golf or bowling, often drawing crowds to watch. He was coincidentally an excellent card player and some often wondered if he used his magic in the course of euchre and rummy games as well. Tom was a long-time parishioner of St. Therese of Lisieux and was well-loved by his large family and he will be dearly missed by the many friends he made along the way. For those that would like to join us in celebrating his life, the arrangements are as follows: Monday, January 30th - Visitation will be from 3:00pm - 9:00pm and Scripture Service 7pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Inc. funeral home, 36900 Schoenherr Rd. (at Metro Parkway), Sterling Heights, MI 48312 Tuesday, January 31st – Instate between 9:30am – 10:00am with Mass beginning at 10:00am at St. Therese of Lisieux, 48115 Schoenherr, Shelby Township, MI (between 21 & 22 Mile Rd.). In lieu of flowers, appreciate any donations be made in Tom’s honor to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls at donate.mercyhome.org Share memories with the family at their “On-Line Guestbook” @ Wujek-Calcaterra.com.

Thomas W. McKay

June 10, 1930 - January 25, 2023