My father-in-law is in heaven now

It is with great sadness that I share that my father-in-law, Gordon MacKay, passed away this morning at the young age of 69. He fought a valiant effort against cancer for the past two years but he has now lost that fight. I got the news while one hour away from home early this morning en route (in a carpool with 3 other gals) to the Stampin’ Up! Regional Seminar in Oakland. I left at 6:30 AM and he passed soon after 7:00 AM. I was unwittingly trapped away from home and only got home about 7 PM.

I have yet to see my husband as he is still at his folks house. We do know that a memorial service will be held next Friday, February 22.

We are not flower folks. My mother-in-law will be choosing a focus for donations and that info will forthcoming. Obviously this is directed more at closer friends who might want to do "something". Alternatively, I invite anyone who might want to make a card to send it to my mother-in-law,

Jan MacKay

2486 Longspur Loop

Lincoln, CA 95648-8773

So many customers and downline have been praying for Gordon for over 2 years now. Wow, what a blessing to us both. Thank you for that. I hope he has now put a bug in God’s ear in gratitude to you about those prayers. I spent all Saturday with him on Feb. 9 as I "babysat" him while out of town family came to say their farewells and since they were new to our area Doug and his mom and sis took them wine tasting to allow Jan (my MIL) to get out of the house a little. She’s been somewhat housebound for months now as his primary caretaker. She is 70 so she’s been tired though a tireless nurse to him. They had been married almost 49 years.

Gordon and I were alone for hours last Saturday (what a great blessing it was for me to have that time alone with him!) and in that time he told me two or three times how much strength he got from the communications to him of any sort (card, phone, email, word of mouth) that someone was praying for him. He said it was what kept him going and so your praying for him means the world to me too. Thank you.

This photo of Gordon (Grandpa) was taken with Matt at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire when Matt’s high school rugby team won the national championship in May 2006. Gordon had had cancer surgery December 2005 but he traveled from California to New Hampshire in bad weather and while still recuperating because he did not want to miss seeing his grandson become a national champion. What a blessing it was that when Matt’s team did win that Grandpa was able to see that. It really meant the world to him as Grandpa was a huge sports fanatic! Sadly, and with Grandma’s fervent request to Matt before he left for Italy, Matt will not be coming home for Grandpa’s memorial. That will be hard on Matt as he deeply loves his grandparents. I know Grandpa wouldn’t have wanted him to come home either. During a very emotional moment with him last Saturday I was able to tell him that Matt told me he had lit a candle in Milan at Il Duomo, the 2nd largest cathedral in the world – eclipsed only by St. Peter’s at the Vatican. Gordon wept when he heard that. I am absolutely certain that Gordon is now with God, sitting side by side in matching recliners, watching old football games on TV (I wonder who will get control of the remote!). I also know that God has heard only great things about Gordon from many people and places around the world!