Patrick Leland McKay

MISSOULA ~ Patrick Leland McKay passed away on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2024. He was 56 years old. A loving son, brother, uncle, husband, caring father of two and doting grandfather of one, he lived a beautiful, fulfilling life.

Patrick, affectionately known as Pat, was born on Feb. 19, 1968, in Hereford, Texas, to parents Katie Mae and JC McKay. He attended Canyon High School where he ran hurdles (always saying “1.2.step, 1.2.step”) and participated in band. Performing with the TEXAS Outdoor Musical sparked a passion for stage performance. He would spend the next 40 years doing just this, as his final night he played one last song with his band Smith McKay All Day at Montana’s beautiful Maverick Mountain.

Throughout his life, Pat worked several different jobs, including the Lodge in Glacier National Park, Good Food Store, DirecTv, and modeling for world renowned British photographer David Yarrow. To date, his daughter Quillan vents about how he met famous model Cara Delevigne during the shoot and had no idea who she was. In 2017, he opened McKays Painting, a painting business he owned and ran with his wife. He took immense pride in his work, and was both professionally and personally invested in delivering the best for his clients, many of whom became dear friends.

Music had his soul. He played for numerous bands around Montana for 35 years and also toured the western United States, Italy and Slovenia. His music brought him to Harvest Homecare, a senior living community, where he loved playing guitar as a music therapist. 

But where music was his passion, his family was his lifelong commitment. On the first day of spring in 2007, he married Christine Miles-McKay, his soulmate and the love of his life. They were married for 17 years, living together in Missoula and sharing two children, Quillan and JC. Pat’s family was his priority. He loved spending time with them and loved laughing with them –– even when he was forced to pretend he liked canned oysters in front of his son (who was laughing at him) because he really wanted seafood.

He was preceded by his father JC McKay, sister Cheyenne Wheatley, grandmother Willie Lee Williams, and grandfathers Gus Williams and Nathanial McKay. He is survived by his wife Christine Miles-McKay, children Quillan Anderson and JC McKay, his grandson Malcolm McKay, his brothers David, Jeffery and Michael McKay, and his beautiful mother Katie Mae McKay.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.