Biography:

Dr. Malcolm Horneck McKay was born at the Public General Hospital in Chatham, Ontario on the 29th of April, 1930.  Dr. McKay was the eldest of 2 children born to Malcolm McKay and the former Hazel Belle Horneck. His father was a plumber and his sister’s name was Ann Elizabeth McKay (born in 1932).  Dr. McKay received his elementary schooling at the Central Public School in Chatham and he received his secondary school education at Chatham Collegiate Institute.

Dr. McKay graduated from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1954.  He then completed a two year internship in family medicine at the Hamilton General Hospital.

Dr. McKay married Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Reynolds on the 9th of July, 1955 in Chatham.  Dr. and Mrs. McKay first met each other in kindergarten.  Mrs. McKay was also born in Chatham on the 17th of August, 1930.  Her parents were Roy Sidney Reynolds and the former Dorothy Margaret Jane Birch.  Mrs. McKay’s father was a Manager at the Public Works Department for the City of Chatham.  She had 3 brothers: Robert John Reynolds, William Roy Reynolds and Thomas Barrie Reynolds.  Mrs. McKay graduated from The University of Western Ontario and the Ontario College of Education.

After their marriage Dr. and Mrs. McKay decided to return to their hometown of Chatham in 1956. That same year, Dr. McKay joined the medical practice of Dr. John Carlyle MacWilliam, which was located at 44 Third Street.  Dr. McKay remained at this medical practice until his retirement in 1998.

In addition to his career as a family practitioner, Dr. McKay also served as the Medical Director of the Kent County Children’s Treatment Centre from 1956 to 1960.  Dr. McKay served as the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of both the Public General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital. Furthermore, he was the Chairman of the Chatham Board of Education for an eight year period, beginning around 1958.

In the late 1960’s Dr. McKay sat on a committee of 19 people, including Dr. John Robert Holmes, that was presenting information to the Province of Ontario attempting to have a college built in Chatham.  The committee was successful and St. Clair College opened its doors in 1972.

Dr. and Mrs. McKay were residing at 542 King Street West in 1974.  For his community service and dedication to the medical profession, Dr. McKay was awarded the Glen Sawyer Service Award in 1999. He also received the Order of Huron Award in 1989, which is presented to those individuals who show commitment to their local Anglican Church.

In his spare time, Dr. McKay’s interests were: reading, playing bridge, travelling, and music – in particular, jazz.

Mrs. McKay was a talented watercolour artist.  She co-founded the Meals on Wheels program that operates in Chatham-Kent in 1970.  She worked as the Executive Director for that organization for 29 years.  Mrs. McKay received a Paul Harris Fellowship award from Rotary in 1998.

Dr. and Mrs. McKay enjoyed nothing more than spending time with their family.  Dr. and Mrs. McKay had four children, Rob, Ian, Anne and Judy who as Dr. McKay liked to state are all “employed and paying taxes.” Dr. and Mrs. McKay also had eight grandchildren: Jill, Taylor, Eric, Cam, Andrea, Julia, Sydney, and Matthew.

Dr. McKay died on the 19th of September, 2001.  Mrs. McKay died on the 21st of September, 2022.

*Dr. McKay’s sister, Ann Elizabeth McKay graduated from Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.  She worked in hospitals in New York, Hamilton, Woodstock and Chatham.  She died at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham on the 26th of April, 1962.  She was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.  

**Dr. John Carlyle MacWilliam and Dr. John Robert Holmes also appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.