There are days where virtually everything is different at the end of it. Today was one of those days. Joe McKamey passed away this morning at approximately 1:45am Pacific Standard Time in the presence of his wife, Donna. We were there by about 3:15am. It was a remarkable morning/mourning on several levels. Its occurrence on Good Friday has a particular resonance for Megan’s family as Catholics which will be pondered for some time to come.
Memory eternal, Joe. Thank you for being such a wonderful dad to all your kids, and for helping to bring such a wonderful daughter into the world as Megan.
More when things calm down.
I was searching for an obituary on Joe and found your blog. I am an attorney in Yakima, Washington and met Joe at a school attorney’s meeting about 15 years ago. I was a new school attorney and had some big shoes to fill. I started calling Joe regularly for advice. I don’t know why I picked him to bother with my silly questions…I guess he had a friendly face and we hit if off. I didn’t want to ask anyone in my own back yard because I was afraid they would try to steal my clients away. Joe and I only saw each other twice a year or so at our school meetings; sometimes less. But for 15 years Joe took my calls and read my e-mails and patiently walked me through whatever I was working on. If he was busy, he always called me back. The last time we spoke was a few weeks ago. He was as gracious as usual and told me I could come visit. Unfortunately I didn’t make it over. Joe was a class act and I will miss him terribly. My husband and I will attend his service on Saturday…perhaps we will meet. If that is not meant to be, I hope your memories of Joe will comfort you. They do me.