Kenneth H Mackay

Kenneth H “Buddy” MacKay 3/22/1933—12/31/2024

Buddy MacKay, beloved husband, family patriarch, and political statesman, passed away Tuesday, December 31st, at home surrounded by family. On an otherwise uneventful day, he went for his most enjoyed afternoon event, his nap, and did not awaken. He leaves behind a large family full of love but missing him greatly, proud of his lifetime of accomplishments, and confident of a race well run. 

Buddy was born in Ocala, Florida in 1933. The MacKay family had lived there for two generations. Growing up, he worked in the family lumber and hardware businesses. Following graduation from Ocala High School, he attended Davidson College and the University of Florida. He served as a pilot in the US Air Force from 1955 to 1958 before entering the University of Florida law school. He entered state politics in 1968 and served in the Florida House and Senate. He was elected to the US Congress in 1982 and later served as Lieutenant Governor, and briefly as Governor, following the death of Lawton Chiles. After retirement from politics and law, he focused his energy on being a grandfather, camellia gardening, family court mediations, and conservation efforts. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Julia MacKay, his younger brother Alfred, and his daughter-in-law Juliette MacKay. He is survived by his older brother George, younger sister Elizabeth, and his wife and partner of 65 years, Anne Selph MacKay. Together they raised 4 sons—Ken and Cindy (Ocala), John and Kym (Tallahassee), Ben and Michele (Jacksonville), and Andy (Thousand Oaks, California). He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Mac (and Maddie), Ted, Lilli, Sally, Nate, Shelby, Emily, Genevieve, Leander, and Vivienne, and 4 great grandchildren Kodah, Kai, Annie, and Grace. As he often said, “Life is good, man!”

A celebration of this remarkable man and the life that he lived will be held Wednesday, January 15th at 1pm at the church he helped to build, Fort King Presbyterian at 13 Northeast 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. A reception will follow, and all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Buddy’s honor to the Florida Wildflower Foundation (flawildflowers.org), Interfaith emergency services (iesmarion.org), or to Fort King Presbyterian Church (ftkingchurch.org)