Obituary of James Vincent McKay

In memory of James Vincent McKay, of Las Vegas, who passed quietly in his sleep Sunday, May 17, 2015, after a brief illness and will be sorely missed. "Big Jim" was a caring, inventive, wonderful man who always believed he was blessed with a most loving family. Jim revered his wife, Shelia McKay, to whom he was married for over 49 years, loved his children, James and Michelle, and their spouses, Kristine and Andy, and, perhaps most of all, his two granddaughters, Campbell and Leila. Jim was born and raised in New York City, and in his youth could be found playing football and stickball or swimming in the Hudson River with his buddies from the Inwood neighborhood and Good Shepherd Parish. He married Shelia in 1966 and eventually moved to northern New Jersey to raise his family and start Bergen Industries, a successful electrical manufacturing business now owned and operated by his son, James P. McKay. In the 1990s, Jim and Shelia packed up and traveled west and fell in love with Las Vegas. The New York guy had become a true westerner. Big Jim loved sports and horseracing and could often be found cashing in another winning bet at the Santa Fe. He was an award-winning amateur photographer who also enjoyed painting and the arts. Jim was four days short of his 84th birthday when he passed. He filled those years with friends and family whom he loved, and who loved him back. Maya Angelou may have said it best about Jim McKay, "The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness." Big Jim certainly did that. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89128. Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada at www.catholiccharities.com or Nevada Public Radio at www.securenvpr.org Condolences messages may be posted on this website.