Obituary for James Everett Mackey Sr.
James Everett Mackey, Sr., age 78, passed away on Wednesday December 22, 2021, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
James was born on June 19, 1943, in Flint, Michigan, the son of the late John Ernest Mackey, Sr. and the late Mildred (Dale) Bahr. He attended Bear Lake High School. On September 7, 1963, he married Barbara Dean at the Bear Lake United Methodist Church and they shared 52 years together before Barbara’s passing on July 19, 2015.
Jim and Barb owned and operated Mackey Farms in addition to Mackey Catering. James was also a truck driver for Wills Trucking as well as Howes & Howes Trucking. Along with Barbara, they hosted over 50 foreign exchange students from all around the world.
He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kaleva and was a member for over thirty years of the Onekama Lions Club where he was also a King Lion.
James enjoyed being a chauffeur for the local Amish community. He lived for hunting and enjoyed RV camping. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and found joy in playing Santa during the Christmas season.
James will be missed by his children James E. Mackey, Jr., John W. Mackey (Shannon), and Joel Mackey all of Bear Lake and Sherry (Randy) Ronning of Manistee; grandchildren Alex (Tiffany) Mackey, DuWane Maidens, Isaac Hamilton, Emma Hornkohl-Winlker, Abby Hornkohl, Lexie Ronning, and Calli Ronning; great grandchildren Parker Mackey, Greyson Mackey, & Brooks Mackey; his siblings John (Vicki) Mackey, Jr. of Bear Lake, Dennis (Diane) Mackey of Kaleva, Robert Mackey of Bear Lake, Barbara (David) Smoot of Frankfort, and David Bahr of Fremont, Indiana; step-siblings Jean Peterson of Buckley, Lawrence (Nita) Bahr of Theodore AL, Donald Bahr of Grawn, Janice (Ronald) Long of Big Rapids; and numerous extended family and friends.
A Graveside Services for James will be held on Friday April 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Fairview Cemetery in Bear Lake. A Celebration of Life and luncheon will follow at the Onekama Lion's Club Pavilion at the Manistee County Fairgrounds.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Onekama Lions Club in James honor.
Please feel free to share a memory or photo with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee, Michigan.
James was born on June 19, 1943, in Flint, Michigan, the son of the late John Ernest Mackey, Sr. and the late Mildred (Dale) Bahr. He attended Bear Lake High School. On September 7, 1963, he married Barbara Dean at the Bear Lake United Methodist Church and they shared 52 years together before Barbara’s passing on July 19, 2015.
Jim and Barb owned and operated Mackey Farms in addition to Mackey Catering. James was also a truck driver for Wills Trucking as well as Howes & Howes Trucking. Along with Barbara, they hosted over 50 foreign exchange students from all around the world.
He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kaleva and was a member for over thirty years of the Onekama Lions Club where he was also a King Lion.
James enjoyed being a chauffeur for the local Amish community. He lived for hunting and enjoyed RV camping. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and found joy in playing Santa during the Christmas season.
James will be missed by his children James E. Mackey, Jr., John W. Mackey (Shannon), and Joel Mackey all of Bear Lake and Sherry (Randy) Ronning of Manistee; grandchildren Alex (Tiffany) Mackey, DuWane Maidens, Isaac Hamilton, Emma Hornkohl-Winlker, Abby Hornkohl, Lexie Ronning, and Calli Ronning; great grandchildren Parker Mackey, Greyson Mackey, & Brooks Mackey; his siblings John (Vicki) Mackey, Jr. of Bear Lake, Dennis (Diane) Mackey of Kaleva, Robert Mackey of Bear Lake, Barbara (David) Smoot of Frankfort, and David Bahr of Fremont, Indiana; step-siblings Jean Peterson of Buckley, Lawrence (Nita) Bahr of Theodore AL, Donald Bahr of Grawn, Janice (Ronald) Long of Big Rapids; and numerous extended family and friends.
A Graveside Services for James will be held on Friday April 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Fairview Cemetery in Bear Lake. A Celebration of Life and luncheon will follow at the Onekama Lion's Club Pavilion at the Manistee County Fairgrounds.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Onekama Lions Club in James honor.
Please feel free to share a memory or photo with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee, Michigan.