Tony Leon Lawrence McKay was born July 25, 1938 at Wood Hills, a road allowance Metis village Section 16-48-08-3, weighing in at 3lbs, 3 oz.  He was fortunately cared for by his Healer Grandmothers.

Lawrence died January 7, 2024, at Herb Bassett Home, Prince Albert, at the age of 85, days after transfer from a significant surgery at RUH in Saskatoon. He had been at Herb Bassett for a little over a month.  Family are deeply saddened as it seemed like he’d been on the mend.

Lawrence left school at age 13 to work with his Dad doing various labor jobs to help support the family.  He started his own family at 19 and soon travelled North to Lynn Lake, MB to work as a hard rock miner, underground, for nearly a decade. He married Orlanda Doerksen McKay in 1958. They had 7 children. Two children were born in Prince Albert (Greg and Joanna), next 4 in Lynn Lake (Chad, Michele, Tammy, Juanita) and 7^th child back in Prince Albert (Darren). They divorced 1974.  He recently got to know an 8^th child (Terri).

Returning south he soon sought his diploma in Social Work, eventually working in Addictions.  He also apprenticed in plumbing which led to a journeyman’s ticket. Lawrence worked in both fields throughout his life, retiring from the Metis Addictions Council Treatment Centre at 65, and then working for another 15 years for the PA Health District as a Plumbing Inspector.

His 2^nd marriage was short – Married Gail L Douglas in 1979 and divorced in 1983.

His 3^rd marriage was to Janet Ferguson.  They have been married for 35 years now. Janet had 3 children (Marilyn, Vernon, Trent).

He was predeceased by his parents Henry McKay and Bertha Mary Collins McKay; Grandparents Archibald MacDonald McKay and Ursula (Lucy) Philomena Fiddler McKay, and Grandparents William Collins and Madeline M Delorme Collins; his brothers one in infancy, Colin, and Dennis; his sisters Lillian and Eliza; his stepson Vernon; his grandchildren Abigayle and Rick.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Gray’s Funeral Chapel, 575 28^th Street West, Prince Albert, SK.

Family and friends may leave online condolences at https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/grays.html

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306) 922-4729.

• Date : 2024-01-07
• Location : Prince Albert, SK