Life story

" Jacalyn “Jackie” Sue McKay, age 70 of Lake Winnebago, Missouri, died Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at St. Joseph Medical Center. She was born on May 24, 1954 to Duane Neal Mulder and Thelma Elizabeth Mulder. Jackie and her three siblings, Linda, Bill and Ron, were raised on their family farm in Perry, Iowa.



She attended Perry High School and during those years, she excelled academically becoming a National Merit Scholar. She participated in multiple sports, was a 4 year cheerleader as well as Editor at the school newspaper. Her freshman year, she began dating the love of her life, Douglas Glen McKay, who was two years her senior.



When she graduated from high school in 1972, she attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa with a major in Education. She married her sweetheart in June of 1974 in Perry, Iowa and they moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education at Arizona State University. She enjoyed working as a Kindergarten and 4th grade teacher for 10 years before she decided to dedicate her life to raising her three children, Brandon, Chelsea and Connor.



Jackie and her family moved to Leawood, Kansas in December of 1989 where she would spend the majority of the remainder of her years. She enjoyed living close to Iowa again and made frequent visits to spend time with her family.



She had the gift of making all things beautiful in her world and loved spending time making her flower gardens and planters extraordinary every summer. She was a talented creator of all sorts and enjoyed activities like sewing her children’s Halloween costumes, stockings, and baking their birthday cakes as well as spending many hours helping them make their school projects exceptional.



She loved traveling and went to great lengths to plan special family vacations every summer. She also loved traveling with her mom, sister and niece and eventually her daughter would join in on the “girls trips”.



Jackie loved animals and the feeling was mutual. She enjoyed feeding the birds and watching the koi and goldfish swim in her pond. Every family pet, dogs or cats, was faithfully by her side at all times.



She was married to Douglas for almost 51 years. They lived in 4 states, created 6 homes together and enjoyed revolving their lives around their children and eventually their 7 grandchildren.



The impact Jackie had on her world was great and the ripples of her talent, generosity and compassion will carry on in the achievements of her children and grandchildren.



In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

https://curealz.org/giving/donate/ "