Charles Raymond McKay, 92, of Severna Park, Md., beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 30, 2018. He was the son of the late Ambrose John and Mary Stella McKay, Bar Harbor, Maine, where he grew up.
Mr. McKay was born October 04, 1925, in Bar Harbor, ME, graduating from Bar Harbor High School, Coburn Classical Institute in 1947, and graduated from the University of Maine in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. Business Graduate studies at the CCNY, Columbia, NYU and University of Delaware, 1952-1957.
McKay Diving & Salvage Co., 1947-1951, Bar Harbor Maine Police Dept., Motorcycle Officer 1948-1951.
He served our country in the U.S. Navy, WWII, 1943-1946, working as a 1st Class Metalsmith and trained to become a ‘hardhat’ diver in the Naval Diving School, Washington DC. Deep-Sea Diver First Class: USS Clytie AS 26, USS Coucal ASR 8. Served at Pearl Harbor, Australia, Borneo, Japan (Hiroshima, Hiro-Was Kure, Sadebo), Okinawa, and the Philippines. Radiation exposure October 1945, at Hiroshima and July and August 1946, diving at Operations Crossroads, following the Bikini atomic bomb Tests Able (uranium) and Baker (plutonium). He was told while diving in the Pacific Ocean around the test bomb blasts in the Bikini islands, in 1946 & 1947, that his radiation dose marker on his dive suit showed his exposure to radiation was too hot and that he better return to the surface immediately. He continued to fight for recognition of radiation-induced diseases. He realized that the VA made inaccurate assumptions about veterans' locations during their exposure to radiation and their duration of exposure.
He worked for Dupont Company and became an Aerospace Engineering Manager for the company where he worked from 1951 until his retirement in 1989…about 38 years. He worked on US Government accounts in Washington DC, selling ‘Mylar’ and other notable products.
Served as Maryland State Commander, Legislative Liaison, District of Columbia, for the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV), 1983-2002. Fighting for fair compensation for the Atomic (radiated) veterans and their widows.
In 1952, he married Venessa Hall McKay, of Bar Harbor, ME. He is survived by his wife, Venessa Hall McKay, his four children: Robert Stephen McKay (Gladney) of Severna Park, MD, Janice McKay Sorich (Michael) of Burbank, CA, Patricia McKay Praschak of Annapolis, MD and James Edward McKay (Carrie) of Bar Harbor, ME. Surviving Brothers are: Lawrence McKay (Gloria) of Kennebunkport, ME; Bernard McKay (Estelle) of Landenberg, PA: James McKay (Ruth) of Hollis Center, ME, and Sister-in-Laws: Marjorie McKay (wife of brother Joseph, deceased), Nancy Hall Dorsey (David), and Brother-in-Law, Lawrence Hall (Lily). Nine Grandchildren: Dan, Carl, Collin, Christina, Jamie, Matthew, R. Max, Melissa, Micaela. Four Great-Grandchildren: Ava, Evelyn, James, Owen.
He was predeceased by younger brothers Robert E. McKay & Joseph McKay, & then sister Jean McKay.
Charlie loved his hometown of Bar Harbor, Maine, spending every summer vacation at his waterfront family camp at Hadley Point, Bar Harbor, ME, with his wife and family. He spent most of his time wielding a hammer and saw and paintbrush while working on the camps.
Charlie was an avid reader and traveler, he and his wife, Vanessa, spending a great deal of time in Scotland, researching his family ancestry & traveling.
Charlie was a University of Maine & Navy sports fan attending the Army/Navy football games, and loved the uMaine football games against uDelaware played in the state of Delaware.
Charlie loved children performing his magic tricks and coin tricks over and over again to their delight, a great story-teller and joke-teller. Gave his lobster educational talk and demonstration at his grandchildren's schoolrooms. He also loved spending time with family and friends always lending a helping hand. He also was somewhat of a prankster with one of his favorites being: “What is that over there?” Then when you looked away he would take your sandwich or plate of food and hide it under the table so when you looked back it was gone. Of course, he would return it immediately. However, sometimes a big bite would be missing from your sandwich.
Friends are invited to show up at 5-7PM, Monday, September 10, 2018 at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main Street, Mt. Desert. Memorial services will be held, 1:30PM, Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Bar Harbor. Interment will be at Holy Redeemer Cemetery.
In lieu of Flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Maryland: www.alz.org/maryland/donate.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com