Lowell Stewart Mackay

Lowell Stewart MacKay, age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 22, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lowell was born May 23, 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Stewart and Frances Lucile Parkinson MacKay. He spent his youth growing up in Salt Lake City. At the age of 19 he joined the Utah National Guard and served for 9 months. Lowell was then called on a two-year LDS Mission to the Hawaiian Islands, serving from March 1949 to March 1951. While there he developed a great love for the Hawaiian people.

During the trip home from his mission with his parents, Lowell stopped in Provo where he was introduced to Gaynell Call. The two immediately hit it off. They became engaged in the spring of 1951 and Gaynell waited two long years while Lowell served in the Army.

Lowell was drafted into the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He taught a radio repair course (electronics) in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey as his military service. He was honorably discharged May 28, 1953 at the rank of Corporal.

Twelve days following his release from military service, Lowell married his eternal companion Gaynell Call in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on June 9, 1953. The couple made their home in Salt Lake City where their first two children were born. In 1956 Lowell and Gaynell moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where they stayed permanently. Their home was blessed with seven more children including a still-born son. Lowell worked as an electronics technician employed by the Nevada Test Site, Frontier Radio, and Master TV, doing various kinds of electronics maintenance and repair.

Lowell’s love of service continued throughout his life as he held various church callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These included Ward Mission Leader, Stake Mission President, Stake High Councilor, and Stake Executive Secretary.

Lowell had a great testimony and love for the Savior Jesus Christ. He treasured his love of the Gospel. His love for his family was his next greatest treasure. He loved his family and found great joy in being with them. Whether it was Sunday dinners with everyone around or one-on-one talks with a grandchild, family meant so much. He loved attending family baptisms, baby blessings, and missionary farewells because they were the combination of his two greatest joys. He was a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather.

Lowell is survived by his wife, Gaynell; 8 children: Dennis (Jolene) of West Jordan, UT; Sid (Dawn), Royce (Carol) both of Las Vegas, NV; Brent (Janna) of Cedar City, UT; Brenda, Gregory (Andrea), Randy (Joan), and Charlene Baca, all of Las Vegas, NV; 37 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and two brothers, Keith (Ruth) and Maurice (Irene) both of Salt Lake City, UT. He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kyle Roger MacKay; three grandchildren: Angel, Nevaeh and Chase.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Copper Crest Ward, 2555 N. Jones, Las Vegas, NV. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be Monday, October 30, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.