March 4, 2023
In loving memory ~
It is with great sadness and tremendous loss that the family of Bonnie McKay announces the passing to the other side of our beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and sister on March 4th, 2023 at the East Kootenay Region Hospital at the age of 78.
Bonnie was born in Creston but lived in Cranbrook with parents Harold (Nick) and Helene Rhodes and two sisters.
At the age of 2 her parents divorced and Bonnie and sister Betty were sent to Calgary Salvation Army Orphanage. At the age of 5, she and sister were returned to her father and stepmother.
Bonnie attended Lindsay Park Elementary, A.A. Watkins Elementary, and McKim and Selkirk High Schools in Kimberley.
In 1960 Bonnie met the love of her life and got married in September 1961 to Ernie McKay from Marysville. They then started their own new family with two sons Tim and Kent, and had 61+ happy years together.
She was a marvelous cook, housekeeper and home "Finance Minister", home decorator, renovator, gardener and everything in between. Bonnie was talented and a hard worker. Her love of animals was deep and abiding, caring for many cats, dogs and even a pet rat Murphy over her lifetime. She was a very special lady.
Bonnie loved downhill skiing and became an active member of the The Canadian Ski Patrol System (C.S.P.S.) and brought many skiers with broken legs off the hill. She was an aggressive but graceful skier and loved powder.
Bonnie was a fantastic artist and painter with oils, water colours, acrylic and black and white ink drawings, giving all her works away as gifts.
During their marriage, they started out in Kimberly then moved to Prince George. After a short time in Castlegar, they moved back to Prince George, finally retiring in Cranbrook. When in Prince George, Bonnie and her husband built their own two story home with a lot of effort and no mortgage.
As an enthusiastic world traveler, she spent a month in Egypt, and two full months in Europe visiting 14 countries. She also traveled through western United States, making jaunts to Seattle, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Disneyland.
Left to mourn Bonnie's passing is her husband Ernie, her two sons Tim (Mary) McKay and Kent (Rae) McKay and her special granddaughters Ema and Kali McKay, Sharon How and her Sister Lola and close friends Betty Shrieves, Rhonda Lee and many more.
Bonnie was predeceased by her father Harold and her birth mother Helen Rhodes, her step-mother and her older sister Betty.
At Bonnie's request there would be no funeral but there will be a family gathering in the very near future.
As Bonnie was generous, giving freely to those in need, so in lieu of flowers please follow her example by donating directly to someone less fortunate.
"...and behave yourself"