Joe D. McKay, 87

Joe D. McKay, 87, February 22, 1937-January 1, 2025. 

It was determined that heaven needed another good Coach, and Joe McKay peacefully answered that call in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025. Joe is survived by his wife, Louise; they have been happily married since 2007. Joe was previously married to Ruth (Grosswiler) from 1961 through 2005, before her passing. 

“I have no regrets. I’ve had a really ‘good run.’” Coach McKay, 2024.  

Joe was born Feb. 22, 1937, in Bridgeport, Nebraska, the first child to Edmund and Lucille (Middleswart) McKay. Joe’s brother John William joined the family two years after Joe. The McKay boys were raised in rural western Nebraska, spending early years living in a sod house. Joe’s father Ed was a long-haul trucker, transporting primarily heavy farm implement equipment across the United States. Joe’s mother Lucy was an attentive parent, ran the household and worked numerous local jobs. 

Joe gained his strong work ethic from his parents and relatives, and for several years the residents of Bridgeport and surrounding farms were pleased with his punctual daily newspaper delivery before breakfast. Joe continued to work various jobs and after high school he found work on nearby cattle ranches and farms. This is where Joe had one of his most important life-changing experiences. One day while helping harvest a large corn field, he noticed a big weed going into the metal blades of the harvester machine, and instinctively Joe reached with his right hand to try grabbing it before it went into the harvested crop. In an instant, his life changed. The weed could not be removed from the harvester and Joe’s hand was pulled into the sharp blades. He was driven back into town at ~90 mph, where the town doctor met him at the hospital. They successfully saved his right index and ring fingers, but his right middle finger suffered extensive damage and could not be re-attached. As result of the injury, he received an insurance payment from the farm’s liability insurance company which afforded him to pursue a college education and his dream of becoming a coach and teacher. 

Joe enrolled in Scottsbluff J.C. and later, Chadron State College on a Track & Field scholarship; eventually being enshrined into the Chadron State Hall of Fame in ‘02. The Chadron State records say, “... McKay set the Chadron State high jump record in 1961, clearing 6-4 ½ using what he called the belly roll. He graduated the following year and taught and coached for five years at Rushville. NE…” 

Son Kent came along in ‘62, and Mike in ‘64. In ‘66, teaching positions opened in Ruth’s hometown of Kalispell, and Joe and Ruth moved their family to the Flathead where they both worked for School District No. 5 for nearly 30 years. Ruth and Joe retired from teaching in ‘95, but Joe continued to coach until 2001. As a head coach, McKay won his first State championship in ‘72 in Girls Cross Country, but more notably saw 20 of his track teams reach the podium and bring home hardware, with 12 of those teams winning State championships. In addition, Joe was a Montana coaching pioneer in becoming the first head coach of the Flathead Bravettes girls’ basketball program when girls' basketball became a sanctioned sport in ‘71. From ‘71-‘83, Joe and his staff led the Bravettes to five top four finishes at State basketball tournaments. Coach McKay was enshrined into the Montana High School Coaches Hall of Fame Class of ‘91 and to the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003. 

Upon retiring from coaching the Bravettes in May 2001, a coaching career that spanned four decades, a Missoulian newspaper article (Rial Cummings) stated, “The most successful high school girls' track and field coach in Montana history has announced his retirement. Joe McKay, named the National girls' coach of the year in 1999, stepped down Saturday as head coach of the Kalispell Bravettes after watching his squad place third at the State Class AA track meet in Great Falls.” Further in the article, “Russ Pilcher of Missoula Big Sky, another longtime coaching counterpart, said McKay commanded respect, as a coach and as a person.” “It was fun,” Pilcher said, “One thing about Joe, he was always cordial. He always had time to ask about your family, how things were going... They won State meets they weren't supposed to win, and that's a tribute to Joe.'' In an additional sign of professional respect, both Idaho State University and the University of Montana contacted Joe to gauge his interest in coaching collegiately. In spring of ‘04 the Flathead High School Trustees voted to change the name of Rawson Field to Legends Stadium and Coach McKay was honored as a “Legend” in the inaugural class of inductees. 

Joe always maintained his pleasant demeaner and wry sense of humor throughout his life. He was closely connected to his local community and built countless friendships with coaching peers, athletes and parents across the state. But often because of Joe’s enduring and recognizable flat-top haircut, Joe and Ruth, and then Joe and Louise, were frequently stopped by former students, athletes and colleagues, both locally and on vacations. Joe attended the First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell for over 50 years, serving as deacon and elder at FPC. In addition, Joe found time to participate in men’s golf and bowling leagues and refereeing hundreds of basketball games. Lifelong sports fans, Joe and Ruth held season tickets for University of Montana Grizzly athletics. While his sons were young, Joe coached little league baseball where he deployed his “splitfinger” fastball for batting practice. Summer workdays often started before 5:30 a.m., cutting hay, so that he could quit farm work before 4 p.m. to coach his sons’ baseball games. For decades, Joe was frequently seen occupying a chair at “Uncle Doug’s table” at Sykes Diner (where his Montana Coaches Hall of Fame plaque resides).  

Above all, Joe was fiercely proud of his Bravette athletes and his McKay family. 

Joe is survived by his son, Kent (Nita), and his son, Mike (Joy), granddaughter, Katie (Drew and great-granddaughter, Ari Joy), grandson, Samuel; along with his loving wife, Louise and her children, Phil (Corinne), Debbie, and daughter-in-law, Mary (John deceased), her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

Funeral arrangements are through Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell on Saturday, June 14, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, any honorariums collected will go to fund track and field equipment at Legends Stadium to continue helping youth in the Kalispell area. (Please make any checks payable to: FHS Track & Field, and mail to: Mike McKay, 2524 Galena Ct., Missoula, MT 59808); or you may choose to honor Coach by donating to a charity of your choice in his honor. To leave condolences for the family visit www.jgfuneralhome.com.