CAMDEN — On Tuesday, October 30, 2018, Leslie Anne McKay, loving wife, mother of four children, and grandmother of five passed away at the age of 76.

Leslie was born on September 12, 1942 in New York City to Richard and Anita (Long) Kinney. She graduated from Hampton Bays High School in 1960 and began working at the Suffolk County Courthouse in New York. Leslie Kinney applied for a part-time job at Suffolk Life News in Riverhead, NY, and was interviewed by John McKay who declined to hire her so he could ask her out on a date. They were married on February 3, 1968 at Saint Rosalie Catholic Church in Hampton Bays, New York, and raised four children together before moving the family to Maine in 1984. Leslie managed her own business and worked in customer service, but her most important and satisfying job was raising her children and caring for her grandchildren.

Service was an important part of Leslie McKay’s life. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader for her children, president of the Camden Women’s Club, Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Good Hope, and secretary of the Camden Lions Club. Leslie’s work ethic, infectious laugh, creativity, and attention to detail were a gift that many enjoyed.

Leslie was a creative artist, crafter, and baker, known for her classy holiday decorations, award-winning Halloween costumes, New York cheesecake, and her love of classical music. She learned to plan a good prank from her brother, Richard, and particularly enjoyed making her dear friends laugh. Leslie was fascinated by science and medicine and was passionate about penguins. She loved the outdoors and the ocean, and could often be found on the water with friends or visiting Peaks Island and Pemaquid Point.

Leslie was preceded in death by her mother, Anita Kinney, her father, Richard Kinney Sr., her brother, Richard Kinney Jr., and her son-in-law, Shane Richardson. She is survived by her husband John McKay; their four children, Jason McKay and Kat Currie of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jane Richardson of South Thomaston, Maine, Paulette and Ben Mastio of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Anne and Phil Fensie of Northport; her grandchildren Aidan, Liam and Mila Fensie, Cassandra and Alyssa McKay; a great-granddaughter; her sister Bernadette Bourne; and several cousins, nephews, a niece, and a large family of in-laws.

Calling hours will be held Friday, November 2, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with prayers at 7 p.m. at the Long Funeral Home at 9 Mountain Street in Camden. The funeral mass followed by a reception will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday November 3, 2018 at Our Lady of Good Hope, 11 Union Street in Camden.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Leslie McKay’s name to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. The family is very grateful for the support and care Leslie received at Knox Center’s Memory Care unit, Pen Bay Medical Center and the Sussman House.  

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.