Obituary of George L. Mackey

GEORGE MACKEY George Mackey passed away from this life at his senior living apartment in Washougal, WA on August 18, 2016 at the age of 98. George was born April 2, 1918 in Terrebonne, Oregon where he married Irene Ruth Dorn. They had four children: Bill, David, Phillip and Phyllis. After the kids grew up, George and Irene RV'd all over the US and Canada. In 1988, he moved to Redmond, Oregon where he lived and built a home. In 2011, he resettled in Washougal, WA. As a young man he rode motorcycles and enjoyed anything dealing with aviation. He worked at jobs in the newspaper, logging and retail industries until WWII when he trained as a mechanic at a pilot training facility in LaGrande, OR. He learned to fly and owned two different airplanes. He was a member of the Army Air Corps and was assigned to "Pacific Operations" a military unit operated by United Airlines in San Francisco, CA to fly war supplies to the Pacific Theater and return wounded soldiers to the mainland. After the war he was hired by United Airlines where he worked until his retirement in 1980. During that time he designed and implemented UAL's Engine Parts Monitoring System and other systems related to engine and airframe maintenance. He travelled extensively throughout the world. An avid hobbyist, he always had mechanics, woodwork, photography and computer projects going. George was a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1947. His survivors include Phyllis Mackey Hopkins Washougal, WA and Bill Mackey Dallas, TX, five grandchildren, and a blended family of seventeen great grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled at Parkside Church, 1420 NE 3rd Ave. Camas, WA at 6:00PM on August 30, 2016. Darryl Elledge will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate George's life. In lieu of flowers we offer the alternative of sending donations to Hospice Care of the Northwest, 1500 NE Irving St., Suite 200 Portland, OR 97232-2267. The family would like to thank Hospice caregivers and the staff at Columbia Ridge Senior Center for their efforts care and dedication.