Passed away at the Carleton District Memorial Hospital on Sunday, December 14th, 2025, at the age of 88 years. Beloved husband of Judith Ann McKay. Loving father of David (Barbara), Bryan (Sylvia) and Christopher (Sharon). Cherished grandfather of Brent (Leah), Curtis (Johanna), Shawn (Cassie) and Kyle (Tori), great-grandfather of Kieran, Claire and Conner, Brother of Michael MacKay (Judy), Son of the late Lorne and Beatrice McKay.
Donald served his country as an RCAF pilot, the work demanded precision, courage, and trust in others as well as a Captain with Air Canada before retiring.
Donald was thoughtful and dependable. He will be remembered by family and friends as a man of calm strength and integrity, someone who carried himself with dignity and left things better than he found them.
Family and friends are invited to Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa), on Tuesday, December 30th, 2025, for a Visitation from 12 noon until the time of the Memorial Service in Beechwood’s Sacred Space at 2 p.m., Reception to follow. For those who wish to donate in memory of Donald please do so toward the Lanark County Food Bank at 84 Mill Street, Carleton Place, ON K7C 1T5.
He will be deeply missed.
Digital Guestbook
Mike Mackay
David & Margaret Steventon
To all the McKay family, we are so sorry for your loss. Don was our neighbour for four years during which time it was always a delight to cross paths an”d enjoy cheerful words. I will miss such chance encounters. Canada is richer for his service. We wish him God’s speed and you all our deepest sympathy.
Sean Sullivan
Don will be missed by all. I can still hear his laugh. He had a terrific sense of humour. Over the past few years he sent me some amazing photos and words of wisdom. I will remember him fondly.
Teresa and Jim Strickland
We know Don through St Mary's Catholic Church in Carleton Place, and his involvement through the Roy Brown Society. Don, and my late husband Jim, were friends in Roy Brown and shared a great interest in history, especially in flight and war aviation. Don loved to share his stories of flying, and his autobiography about his career as an aviator. We loved his knowledge and enthusiasm, and he was a great contributor to the Roy Brown Society and cameraderie.
We also know Don from church, and I even sang with him in the choir very recently. He loved to sing, and always had a smile and positive attitude to share with everyone. As my husband's health was failing, he never missed an opportunity to shake Jim's hand and offer some words of encouragement.
I will miss seeing Don proudly lay a wreath or two every Remembrance Day with his son. Rest in peace my friend, I know you are lighting up heaven. Until we meet again.
Judy, David, Bryan and Chris,
I express my deepest condolences on the death of your husband and father, Donnie. As his youngest brother, there are many wonderful memories that flood my mind. Donnie was my idol and I looked up to him. To me he was a man of adventure, from learning to fly at the age of 17 at the Fundy Flying Club in Saint John, to joining the RCAF and then eventually Air Canada. Donnie was extremely proud of his flying career. He had many stories to share and I had the privilege to listen to some of them. Donnie had a great sense of humour and brought joy to those who knew him. Donnie, you will be missed but not forgotten because of those great memories that I can look back upon.
Above all, even though he travelled the world many times, you, his family, were his world.
From myself, my wife Judy and all of our family, please accept our heart felt sympathy and our prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time.