Loa Gurr
MacKay
1919 ~ 2010
Loa Gurr MacKay passed away peacefully May 17, 2010, just shy of her 91st birthday.She was born on May 31, 1919 in Provo, Utah to Wallace Marsh Gurr and Bathsheba James. She married her high school sweetheart, David O. MacKay, III, on May 20, 1941, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they have six children, 30 grandchildren, and 52 great-grandchildren.
An excellent seamstress, Loa supplemented the family income as time permitted, by altering clothing and by managing fabric stores in Salt Lake. She was also called upon to use her sewing skills to assist her husband in decorating the interiors of several Utah temples.
As a sports enthusiast, Loa loved to play baseball, basketball, tennis, and any other outdoor sport. She also loved attending sporting events, especially when her family was participating, and wasn't afraid to let the officials know when they had made an error in their calls. She was an avid fan of BYU football, the Utah Jazz and the New York Yankees. She loved being outdoors, and particularly enjoyed camping and fishing with her parents, siblings, and children.
Spending time with her family was important to Loa, and Sunday evenings were always set aside for her family. Much of that time was spent playing games, and Loa was often crowned the champion Rook player. She was ever sensitive of others, and had a gift for making everyone feel welcome and loved.
Loa was a faithful member of the LDS church, serving in whatever calling came her way. Together with her husband, she served a mission from 1988 to 1990 in the New Zealand Temple. Upon returning home, they served together in the Salt lake Temple for many, many years.
While very small in stature, she stood tall among all those who knew her as an example of service, compassion, and living the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Loa was preceded in death by her husband last October, and by her parents, two brothers, and four sisters. She is survived by her sister LaVon Hansen, and her six children, David Brent (Jane) MacKay, Kathleen (Dennis) Canning, Beverly (Gerald) Platt, Patricia (Jon) Ashton, Brian (Stacey) MacKay, and Douglas (Julie) MacKay.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 noon at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, with a viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.