MACKEY, Malcolm David

Norvel Owens Mortuary, Flagstaff, Arizona Malcolm David Mackey (May 24, 1927 - October 12, 2014) Malcolm Mackey was an excavator by trade. But he wrote essays and told stories in his spare time, and he had a thing about old railroads. Mackey died Sunday in Flagstaff at the age of 87, but he leaves a pair of railroad steam engines in town to remember him by. According to Joe Meehan of the Northern Arizona Pioneer Historical Museum, Mackey was responsible for the saving and moving of the museum’s Baldwin #12 locomotive not once but twice. And he was also responsible for the plot that saved and moved Two Spot, another local steam engine, which is now located next to the 1889 Santa Fe Depot in downtown Flagstaff. In recognition, Mackey was a recipient of the Bent Spittoon Award and the El Merito Award, both given to him for his service to the Arizona Historical Society. Mackey was born May 24, 1927, and lived most of his life in the family home on North Leroux Street. He graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1944 and from Arizona State College (now NAU) in 1948. He married Martha Webber in 1949 and she preceded him in death in 2001. He is survived by son Charles Mackey of Cottonwood and daughter Anna M. Reager (Bill) of Richmond, Va. He served on the board of the Arizona State Historical Society from1986-2002 and also on the board of the Pioneer Museum. He researched, wrote and self-published numerous books and monographs about events and places in northern Arizona and sold them in the Pioneer Museum. He wrote a weekly column for the Arizona Daily Sun titled “Back Then.” Anticipating his death, Mackey provided some notes for his obituary. How would he like to be remembered? “Plain spoken but honored to have had loyal friends from many walks of life.” A memorial service will be held at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, 3600 North Fourth St., on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited for refreshments at Charly's at the Weatherford Hotel, 23 North Leroux. Memorial contributions may be made to Pioneer Museum, 2340 N. Fort Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 or Sunshine Rescue Mission, 124 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.