Roger McCay

Roger McCay, 74, of Diagonal died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, at his home.

Celebration of life services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25, in Creston. The Rev. Chuck Spindler will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, south of Creston. Visitation with family present will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be established. Online condolences can be left at www.powersfh.com.

Roger Earl McCay, son of Bonita May (Flint) McCay and Elmer Earl McCay, was born Oct. 24, 1942, in Bethany, Missouri. He graduated from Creston High School in 1961 and then studied at Iowa State University, obtaining a Bachelor degree in forestry. Roger then furthered his education at Ohio State University where he received his master’s degree in agricultural economics and rural sociology.

On Oct. 9, 1963, Roger married Susan Hoyt in Ames. Roger completed his forestry training while in Utah and then worked a variety of places in the forest services and economics departments including Columbus, Ohio; Dalton, Pennsylvania; Waukesha, Wisconsin; Fairfax, Virginia; and Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He then retired and moved to Diagonal. Roger and Susan divorced. In retirement, Roger built his retirement home and raised and trained yellow labs through his business Mac’s Friendly Labs.

Roger was a former member, judge and officer of North American Hunting and Retrieving Association. He also was a baseball umpire for both high school and semi-pro games.

Roger is survived by his son Kevin (Maggie) McCay of Carlisle; daughter Kelly (Scott) Purdy of Mukwonago, Wisconsin; former wife Susan McCay of Mukwonago, Wisconsin; son-in-law Marty Sharer of Franklin, Kentucky; grandchildren, Max McCay, Nic McCay, Brandon Purdy and Bryor Purdy; brothers, David (Sue) McCay of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Keith (Brenda) McCay of Waukee and numerous other relatives.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Kerry Sharer.