- Date Of Birth: April 13, 1924
- Date Of Death: March 1, 2012
- State: Colorado
Gwendolyn Hyslop McKay entered into rest on March 1, 2012. Gwen was born to Dr. Clayton Jr. Hyslop and Edna Forsyth Hyslop in Galesburg VA., April 13, 1924.
Gwen attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s Academy in Galesburg Illinois. Her family then moved to Quincy Illinois in 1942. Here she graduated from Notre Dame High School. After graduation she entered St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield Illinois. Later she continued her nursing career at Quincy College and Blessing Hospital where she received her Nursing Degree.
Gwen furthered her education at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, MO where she excelled and graduated in Anesthesiology. Her profession took her to Oahu, Hawaii. Here she was attached to the U.S. Air Force Far East Air Military Command Hospital.
While living and working in Hawaii, Gwen met and married Colonial George Earl McKay. George was a decorated Colonial who served in World War 2 and was a Famed Flying Tiger.
Several years later, Colonial McKay’s assignment took them to Langley Air Force Base in NewPort News VA., where their daughter Molly Ann was born. A year and a half later they welcomed another daughter, Margaret Mary. After Col. McKay’s Retirement he moved his family to Bow Mar in Littleton, CO. where they lived for 32 years.
Gwen continued her anesthesia career at Mercy Hospital for over 10 years. She eventually chose a closer drive and worked at Wheatridge Nursing Home for 5 years, and then Hallmark Nursing Home for 3 years.
After her beloved husband’s death in 1989, her daughter Margaret, “Maggie” and husband Russ and children moved in to help. In 1994, Maggie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was now both of them helping each other. As time went by, Maggie long wanted a place of her own as she dreamed of getting better. Maggie and her family moved to a nice home in 1996. Gwen still needed help, and the opportunity arose of having Gwen closer to Molly. The house next door to her daughter’s went up for sale. Gwen moved out of her beautiful home and moved next door to her daughter Molly.
Gwen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1997. Maggie passed away two years later after a long battle with cancer in 1999. This caused Gwen and the family much anguish, and it certainly didn’t help with the Alzheimer’s.
Molly and her teenage children then took over the role of full time caregivers to Gwen during this long journey that forever changed everyone’s lives. Molly and her children took care of Gwen for 15 years, until the day she passed and lived every day to the fullest. Molly always said, “We had 15 years together, every day of every week and every year that went by that we probably would not have had if Mom hadn’t gotten this awful disease.” There are reasons for everything. Cherish every day to its fullest.
Gwen was an avid reader and Antiques Collector. She enjoyed her keen ability to invest in Real Estate and embraced her Catholic Faith. Her life was colorful, her virtues, talents and accomplishments were many, but her greatest joys were her daughters and grandchildren.
Gwen is survived by her loving daughter Molly, her devoted and constant caregiver; her grandchildren, April Hughes, of Aurora, CO, Sara and Benjamin Wyckoff of Englewood, CO, and Chealsey and Katie Golla of Littleton, CO. Her sister, Roseanne Szidon of Ft. Collins, CO, and her brother William Hyslop, and sister in law, Josephine Hyslop of Dandridge, TN, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Maggie Golla, and her brother Clayton J. Hyslop Jr.
Gwen was a beloved mother, grandmother and sister. She will be greatly missed forever, but her memories will live in the hearts of us who loved her as she left many footprints in the sands of time.
