Gwynieth Mackey

Gwynieth Joe Ann Mackey age 84, passed away on March 11, 2015 at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Nursing Home in St. James, MN. Gywnieth was born on June 29, 1930 to Vir Bishop in Iowa City, Iowa. Along with her mother, Gwynieth was raised by her maternal grandparents, Caleb and Margaret Squibb. She married Bernard (BJ) Mackey on February 6, 1948. Gwynieth was a stay at home mom long before it was "popular." After the kids were grown, Gwynieth went to work at the St. James Plaindealer, where BJ was the publisher. What was to be a temporary job ended up lasting 25 years. Following her retirement from the newspaper (at age 62) Gwynieth started her own cleaning service. She cleaned 20 years for private families and for Mayberry Realty before hanging up her dust cloth, age 82. Gwynieth was a member of the St. James Catholic Church. She enjoyed spending time at McDonald's with her many friends. She loved to dance, play cards and go to movies. She also enjoyed playing Bingo at McDonald's, the Legion, the Eagles, and occasionally, at the Casino. The past ten years she made little paper clip angels and gave them to almost anyone who crossed her path. Literally she gave away thousands of angels to family, friends and complete strangers. Likewise she wore her "Support Our Troops" t-shirt every Friday night up until the end. However, Gwynieth's greatest joy was spending time with her kids and grandkids. She was a great cook and baker. And she was the happiest when she was serving her family and friends. Left to cherish Gwynieth's memory are her six children; Don (Marni) Mackey, St. James, MN; Connie (Tom) Posch, Northfield , MN; Jeanie Johnson Bloomington, MN; Deb (Tom) Isle, Brainerd, MN; Curt (Corinne) Mackey, St. James, MN; and Dave (Melissa) Mackey, Omaha, NE. Gwynieth is also survived by 14 grandchildren and their spouses, 17 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and special friends, Linda and Richard Flohrs and family, Ormsby, MN. Gwynieth was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard (BJ) Mackey, her mother, Vir Bishop, grandparents Caleb and Margaret Squibb, step granddaughter, Lisa Isle Hallman; great-grandson William Augustin; twin great-granddaughters, Avery Hope and Brinlee Faith Thorlaksen. Memorials will be gifted to Relay For Life in St. James in honor of Gwynieth Mackey. Gwynieth's legacy to her children is her caring, her compassion and her unconditional love. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, March 13, 2015 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Second Visitation 9:30 am - 10:30 am Saturday, March 14, 2015 St. James Catholic Church, St. James 623 4th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 10:30 am Saturday, March 14, 2015 St. James Catholic Church, St. James 623 4th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Calvary Cemetery- St. James East of town on CR 27 Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081