Roy Alexander MacKay

Roy MacKay was born at home on July 22, 1936 in the village of Dorset. He was the third son of mother Doveina, and father Norman, and had two older brothers, James and Norman.

The family farm provided much of their food and the community of friends, family, school and church provided the rest.

He met his wife, Heather, when she took a job as a school teacher in Dorset and needed to board her horse at the family farm. They were married in 1958 and son Sandy and daughter Adrienne soon followed.

With help from others in the community, Roy built his family’s home on property that was formerly his grandfather’s sawmill site on Little Trading Bay. He lived there the rest of his life.

Roy started his working life as a Forest Ranger for the Department of Lands and Forests in Dorset in 1955. The Department was changed by reorganization in 1972 to become the Ministry of Natural Resources and his job was moved to the new district office in Bracebridge where he completed his career as District Forest Operations Manager in 1991.

As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, canoe trips and activities that often included snowmobiles and ATVs. In spring, he made maple syrup and tended a large garden on his property throughout the summer. If you dropped by for a visit, you would often go home with a jar of his homemade pickles, jams or jellies.

He was an active community member. He served a term as town councillor, several years as volunteer Fire Chief and 40 years as chair of the Paint Lake Pioneer Cemetery Committee. In his later years, many organizations benefited from his charitable donations.

Whatever Roy did, he did with a strong work ethic and loads of integrity.

Roy was predeceased by his father Norm, mother Doveina, brother James and his wife Alice and his own wife Heather. He is survived by his brother Norm and his wife Alice, his son Sandy and his wife Lori, his daughter Adrienne and her husband Andrew, grandson Caleb and his partner Kaylin and grandson Ethan. He will be deeply missed by them and by so many in the community that he was such a significant part of.

A fall at home in early November seemed to set off health complications that could not be overcome. He passed away less than three weeks later in Huntsville Hospital on November 19.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Recreation Centre, 1051 Main Street, Dorset on Saturday, November 29th, 2025, all are welcome. The gathering will begin at 1130 a.m. with a short service at 12 noon. Lunch and visits with friends and family will follow until 3:30 p.m.

Donations in Roy’s honour can be made to Knox United Church or the Dorset Heritage Museum.

If desired contact Mitchell Funeral Home for assistance.