Anne B. McKay Enjoyed Cooking, Writing Poetry

Anne B. McKay of Needham and Edgartown died Sept. 15 after a courageous battle with lymphoma. She was 91.

Anne was the wife of Frank E. McKay.

Born in Lexington, she was the daughter of the late Walter S. Beatty and Mildred Pease Beatty. Her mother was the niece of John Wesley Pease, grandson of Jeremiah Pease, founder of the Methodist Camp Ground in Oak Bluffs.

She was graduated from Lexington High School in 1932 and went on to study library science at Simmons College. She then worked various jobs both in the Lexington area and on the Vineyard, where her mother's family had a long history. This included working at her family's business, the Kelley House, during the 1930s where she befriended many of the notable guests of the period, including etiquette expert Emily Post and famed vaudeville and radio comedian Ed Wynn.

During World War II, she started up a pen pal relationship with a soldier named Frank McKay, who became her husband in 1946. After living in Fall River and then in Ohio, they settled in Needham in 1956 to raise their family. Anne developed a reputation as a great cook and friends, neighbors and relatives all enjoyed her baked goods. She enjoyed writing and produced much memorable poetry; a line from one of her poems once graced the banner of the Vineyard Gazette.

Anne was a devoted member of the Carter Memorial Methodist Church in Needham for 50 years, serving the church in many capacities. She enjoyed summers on the Vineyard all her life and had many longtime friends there. She attended church in Edgartown at the Old Whaling Church. In recent years, she volunteered at the Second Hand Store on Summer street.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, James J. McKay, and his wife, Madeleine, of Framingham and Edgartown; a daughter, Martha Jason of Dennis; and five grandchildren, James T. and Julie McKay of Framingham, Kelley King of Dennis, Nicole Katz of Gilbert, Ariz., and Kim Talbott of Syracuse, N.Y. She was predeceased by a daughter, Carolyn McKay King.

A memorial service will be held Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Carter Memorial Methodist Church in Needham.

Interment will be private on the Vineyard. Other arrangements will be private and under the care of Eaton Funeral Home in Needham (eatonfuneralhomes.com). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carter Memorial UMC Permanent Memorial Fund, 800 Highland avenue, Needham, MA 02494.