Lila Gay McKay

Lila Gay Felt McKay, 92 of Twin Falls, received her wings July 26, 2023 and returned to her Heavenly Father to have a grand reunion with her husband Leon and all her siblings. Gay was number five of eight girls born to J. Earl and Myrtle Felt in Huntsville, Utah on January 24, 1931.

Gay was always an adventurous soul. And loved to explore and be her dad’s helper on the farm, especially with the animals. She had a soft spot with all animals except snakes and spiders. Gay was musically inclined playing the violin, piano and having a beautiful voice. Gay was also an accomplished ballroom dancer and performed in many shows in her younger years. She actually met her husband, Calvin Leon McKay, at a New Years dance when she was 15. Gay graduated from Weber High and Weber College with a two-year certificate in music. She worked at the Weber library, a grocery outlet and a bank in Ogden.

After Leon returned from his tour in the Korean War, they were married in the Latter-day Saint temple in Salt Lake City on October 22, 1953. They moved to Hayward, California where they worked and started their family. In 1956, they moved to Idaho and became farmers. They had farms in Kuna, Caldwell, Wilder, Fairfield and settled in Jerome in 1972. Mom was Leon’s right hand man. She worked right alongside him in the fields, milking cows and many other tasks all while taking care of her family, cooking three meals a day and keeping an immaculate house. She was the first to rise and the last to go to bed. Mom had an active life on the ranch being kicked by cattle, bucked off horses and even motorcycle accidents. Her first broken bone didn’t happen until she was 92. Gay and Leon retired to city life in Twin Falls in 1988.

Gay lost her husband Leon just short of 40 years of marriage in 1993. Mom always loved to go on adventures and see where a road would take you. After Leon passed, she was able to go to Israel, Hawaii, on an Alaskan cruise and many other trips with her sister Alice and her friend Irene. She had many road trips with her daughters, JoAnna and Stacy, exploring the Wild West. She was also fond of going to the cabin in Island Park. She loved her weekly drives with Stacy and other family members when they could go, especially the ice cream stops in Shoshone at the Snack Bar. The last couple of years her memory was failing, so anywhere she went was a new adventure. Mom was the Uno Queen. She could play for hours and she would win 80 percent of the games. Even her great grandson Jaxon would play with her giving her a few tips when she would forget in the last few years.

Gay loved being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ. She held many positions, but her favorite was stake dance director and teaching the children songs about Jesus in Primary. Gay was a member of the Wild Bunch and enjoyed her association with these sweet women for the last 25 years, especially her dear friend and neighbor Irene. Mom would say her kids may be loud and rough around the edges, but they were all kind, loving, successful individuals and treated her well. She felt that she must have done something right.

Gay was a beloved mother to her five children; JoAnna (Aaron) Rhoades of Orem, Utah; Kevin (Julie) McKay; Rodney (girlfriend, Connie,) McKay, Bryan (Shawna) McKay all of Jerome, Idaho; and Stacy McKay of Twin Falls, Idaho; along with 11 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon; parents; seven sisters and two great grandsons.

Mom was a great example of hard work, patience, forgiveness, love, and gratitude to all those around her. An emptiness will be felt in our lives and she will be greatly missed. We would like to offer a special thanks to all those who took care of her at DeSano Place Village in Jerome and Auburn Crest Hospice.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm, Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Farnsworth Mortuary, 1343 S Lincoln Ave, Jerome. Graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at the Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville, Utah.

We love you Mom, till we meet again.