Joanne Louise (Lucas) McKay

Joanne Louise (Lucas) McKay, 78, went to live with our Lord and Savior on July 3, 2022 after her long battle with numerous illnesses. She passed at Polaris Hospice in Milford, Delaware, as she lived her life, with her loving husband by her side.

Born in Trevorton, PA, in 1944, she was the second oldest of 4 daughters and 1 son of the late Neva (Long) and James Lucas.

Upon graduation from Trevorton High School, Joanne moved to Washington, DC to begin her long career as a secretary. She worked for the Federal government in various stations, including the Pentagon, between 1962 and 1970. She was fond of telling people of her experiences living history during that time.

In 1970, she met and married the love of her life, Bob McKay, and moved to Boonton, NJ. During the 16 years they spent in Boonton, she and Bob celebrated the births of two daughters, Kris and Betsy, and made many lifelong friends. Joanne put secretarial work on hold while their children were young but took in work at home as a seamstress. Once her daughters were old enough, Joanne resumed her secretarial career working at Treadways Trucking and later as a legal secretary.

In 1986, the family moved to Muncy, PA and became proprietors of McKay’s Hardware. Bob and Joanne worked side by side through good times and bad for the 13+ years the store was in business. When the original 150-year-old store burnt down in 1993, they were unwavering in their desire to rebuild and continue to support their community.

In 2012, Bob and Joanne retired to Frederica, DE to be closer to their children and granddaughters.

Joanne had an unfailing faith in God and Jesus which carried her through the many trials of life. She loved family and had a wide open and accepting heart that made her the “second” mom, affectionately called “Joey” or “Mama McKay” of all of her daughters’ friends. Joanne loved animals, puzzles and reading. She learned to sew, knit and crochet from her mother as a child, as she taught her daughters and granddaughters. A true textile artist, Joanne made, not only her own wedding dress, but also that of her daughter, Kris, and numerous bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, prom dresses and other men’s and women’s clothes. She knitted and crocheted countless sweaters and afghans throughout her life and, during Covid, an entire menagerie of animals “to keep her hands and fingers busy and nimble”. Her ability to create masterpieces with textiles was as large as her heart.

Joanne had a beautiful smile that was never confined to her face. When Joanne smiled, when she laughed, it was infectious. It is said that some people have a “smile to light up a room”. Joanne’s smile and her laugh could light up a city block. She loved to laugh. She loved to spread cheer and joy. One of the phrases Joanne raised her girls with was “To gain respect, you must give respect.” She gained respect from all who knew her. She drank her occasional top-shelf bourbon straight up, which some stereotyped as the drink of a “hard woman”…. but not Joanne. She was a lady of pure class and effortless grace. She took that straight up bourbon and held it, and herself, in such a way that the bourbon was jealous!

Surviving to carry on her memory are her husband, Bob; two daughters and sons in law Kris (Bob) Langer of Mechanicsburg, PA and Betsy (Shawn) Lanouette of Lewes DE; 3 granddaughters Caitlyn, Paige and Lila; 3 grand dogs Tonka, Tillman and Maggie; sisters Linda (Rudy) Moyer of Muncy, PA, Janey (Everett) Horton of Mt Juliet, TN, Becky (Wayne) Pratt of Wake Forest, NC; brother Jim (Pam) Lucas of Graham, NC; sisters-in-law Arlene Orlando of Whippany, NJ and Shirley McKay of Long Valley, NJ; countless nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a multitude of friends who will all miss her. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased in death by mother-in-law Frances “Vi” McKay, father-in-law Earl McKay and brothers-in-law Bill McKay and Jerry Orlando.

A celebration of life will be held after cremation on August 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 Church Street, Milford, DE. Refreshments to be held at 12:00 following the service.

Donations in Joanne’s name can be made to your local house of worship or local animal shelter.