His great-grandparents, John McKiee and Eleanor Jackson, married Christmas Day, 1854 in Simcoe. Their son, prominent merchant George Jackson McKiee, sold his store to H. S. Falls then started what since 1929 has been known as the McKiee & Farrar insurance agency. George Jackson McKiee II, (the "boy mayor" of Simcoe) managed the business until Jay assumed control in 1960.

In 1995, McKiee & Farrar Limited celebrated 100 years of insurance service to the community, 35 of those years under Jay’s leadership. Grateful for the support he received from the community, Jay felt an obligation to give back. 

Both generous and practical, he never hesitated to support a worthy cause. Jay saw value in leading by example for the benefit of others. Some of his many contributions include Lighthouse Theatre, rebuilding Simcoe Composite School gymnasium after a crippling fire, St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Lynn Valley Trail Association and the preservation and restoration of Simcoe Courthouse. 

Of all of his philanthropic endeavours, perhaps the most important to him was establishing the Marian McKiee Memorial Scholarship Fund in honour of his mother to reward and support academic excellence, as well as the Irene McKiee Bursary Fund to both honour Irene’s contribution to McKiee & Farrar and promote business skills development for qualifying students at Simcoe Composite School.

Equally generous with his time, Jay was Scout Master, Treasurer of Oakwood Cemetery, lifetime member of Rotary -- including past president and Paul Harris Fellow, member and past president of the Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce, Probus, past president Norfolk Community Foundation, and a lifetime member Norfolk Historical Society. 

Jay was honoured by the Norfolk Community Foundation and awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2012. 

Jay had many personal interests. He was a fount of knowledge about the history of Simcoe and Norfolk County. Largely self-taught, he loved to engage in conversation about local, provincial and international affairs. Jay was a keen card player, especially cribbage and bridge, an avid golfer in his earlier years and always an ardent fan of the Raptors and the Blue Jays (in fact, of any kind of birds). 

Survived by Jocelyn McKiee, mother of Jane McKiee Cowan (Scott) and Jackson McKiee. Loving husband of the late Irene McKiee (2014) mother of Janet Pepper (John Frederick) and Jim Pepper (Veronica). 
Cherished grandfather of Nick Cowan and Morgan Cowan. Jay is survived by his brothers Reid McKiee (Janiss) and Nelles McKiee (Carole), for whom he was much more than just an elder brother. 

He was predeceased by his parents Marian & Jack McKiee and sister Christie Jackson. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. 

Although Jay and Irene enjoyed extensive travels together, Simcoe and Norfolk County were his heart and home.

Friends were invited to visit with the family on Friday, October 12, 2018 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Ferris Funeral Home, 214 Norfolk St. South, Simcoe where Jay's memorial service followed at 11:30 a.m., Reverend Mikal Schomburg officiating. Private family interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home who provided Jay with extraordinary care and compassion during what turned out to be the last few weeks of his life. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Marian McKiee Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Irene McKiee Bursary Fund (administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation) or to St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. 

See Jay's
1946 SHS Photo

 
Copyright 2018 John Cardiff and the family of Jay McKiee