William Keith Age - 85 - Chama Mackey

William Keith Mackey, called Bill, was 85 years old when he died at his home in Chama, NM on October 22, 2012. Bill was born in Norton, Texas on March 11, 1927 to James Floyd Mackey and Mary Frances Mitchell Mackey.\r\n Bill is survived by his wife Carol of Chama, daughter Cindi Wallace and her husband Mark of Albuquerque, NM; son James Keith Mackey and his wife Donna of Lake Charles, LA; daughter Melissa Mackey and her husband Matt Pierce of Espanola, NM; grandson Jason Cox and his wife Shelly of Pagosa Springs, CO; grandson Josh Mackey and his wife Kate of Portland, OR; grandson Jeff Cox and a great-granddaughter of Pampa, TX; and sister Nina Lee Mackey of San Antonio, TX.\r\n A service celebrating the life of Bill Mackey will be held at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, NM on November 17th at 10:30 a.m. to be followed by luncheon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation, the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, or the charity of your choice.\r\n Bill joined the Navy in February 1945 and served until 1953. He graduated from North Texas State in January 1955 and married Carol Lee McCune in December of that same year. The couple taught in Texas before moving to Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1958 for Bill to work for Union Carbide. In 1962, Bill left Union Carbide and the couple and their two children Cindi and James Keith moved to Carol’s hometown of Pampa, Texas to teach school. Third child Melissa was born in 1964. In 1965, Bill and Carol both earned Master’s degrees from North Texas State. They taught in Pampa from 1962 till they retired in 1991.\r\n The Mackeys attended the First Presbyterian Church and were very active in the life of the community. Bill served as an elder, led the senior high fellowship, and belonged to the Mariners Fellowship. He was on the board of Southside Senior Citizens and was a part of the initial opening of the center on the south side of Pampa. He and Carol were dedicated to their work with Girl Scouts and shepherded Troop 619 from Brownies in 1972 to First Class Girl Scouts in 1981.\r\n Bill’s teaching field was Industrial Arts and he was a woodworker and a craftsman who built the house he and Carol raised their children in. With his careful technique and deft hands he could repair most household and mechanical objects. In later years he learned blacksmithing, an interest he shared with his son James and grandson Josh. He loved old tractors and steam engines of any kind.\r\n After retirement, Bill and Carol gave even more time and energy to the place that had become a second home--Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM. In 1993 they moved to Ghost Ranch and became permanent volunteers there. They ran the Service Corps and hosted, designed and taught Elderhostel courses. Bill and Dave Morrison carved the wooden welcome sign that hangs over the Ghost Ranch gate. Bill also spent several years restoring a red 1948 Jeep that was his pride and joy.\r\n His interest in steam engines led to a love of American steam railroading and a deep passion for the narrow gauge Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Northern NM and Southern CO. He and Carol were devoted and hardworking members of the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad beginning in the early nineties. Bill worked on railroad cars during Friends work sessions for much of the nineties, and he and Carol helped with or managed the tool car during summer work sessions as recently as this past June.\r\n They re-retired from Ghost Ranch in 2009 and moved to Chama, NM.\r\n Bill Mackey was a kind, gentle and humorous man, a faithful and loving husband, a devoted father and a generous friend. The salt of the earth is missing one of its own, while the saints rejoice for one more in their midst.\r\n A service celebrating the life of Bill Mackey will be held at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, NM on November 17th at 10:30 a.m. to be followed by luncheon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation, the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, or the charity of your choice. The family of William Keith Mackey have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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