John Elwood Mackay, Sr.

John Elwood (“Woody”) Mackay, Sr., age 77, died Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at his home in Raritan Township NJ.

Born July 6, 1946 in Plainfield NJ, John was the son of the late Elwood John and Allene Gertrude (Carkhuff) Mackay. He grew up in Warren Township and graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School with the Class of 1964. After high school, John joined the United States Coast Guard and served active duty during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967.

Upon completion of his Coast Guard Service, John began work as an auto mechanic and then worked as a carpenter, which lead to becoming a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 455 (now, Local 245) as a Union Carpenter, and served as an Officer as well. John became involved training apprentice carpenters in the Technical Training Center for Union Carpenters in Kenilworth NJ.

Throughout his life, John loved the companionship of Brittany Spaniels and rescued many dogs, even breeding a few litters from time to time. He also enjoyed his gun collection and was an accomplished trapshooter and proud member of the American Trapshooters Association.

John was a member of the Flemington Elks, a HUGE NY Yankees fan, and playing many rounds of golf at Harker’s Hollow Golf Club in Phillipsburg NJ and Fairway Valley Golf Club in Washington NJ. He always kept an impressive vegetable garden at his home in Raritan Township, and could be seen in his classic 1964 Chevelle around the area, or listening to some of his favorite do-wop and oldies music.

John is survived by his two sons, John E. Mackay, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer of Phillipsburg NJ, and Robert C. Mackay and his wife, Kim of Asbury NJ, his four grandchildren, Austin James Mackay, Devin Jean Mackay, Alexandra Grace Mackay and Christopher Lynwood Mackay, as well as his two great-grandchildren, Arlo Matthew Schick and James Christopher Mackay, and his sister, Pamela Morris of Atlanta GA.

Visiting hours will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, followed by a memorial service at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 5, 2024 at Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington NJ 08822. Interment will be on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 11:30 am at Hillside Cemetery, 1401 Woodland Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s name may be made to Good News Home for Women, 33 Bartles Corner Rd, Flemington, NJ 08822 or to the National Brittany Rescue & Adoption Network, PO Box 5046, Greensburg, PA 15601-5058.

For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.