Sheila Margaret MacKay, age 85, of Lake Charles, La. passed away on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Sheila was born on Dec. 12, 1937 in Port Washington, Long Island, N.Y. 

Sheila graduated from Valpariso University in Valpariso, Ind. with a degree in english and mathematics. She worked 40 years at Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich in the Academic Press division and later for Elsevier which bought HBJ, New York City and San Diego, Calif. Sheila loved to read and was a world traveler. She traveled every continent and over 100 countries. She said, “I was willing to go anywhere…with a trunk. I was always interested in other places since I was a youngster.”  

Sheila was a member of the San Diego Masterworks Chorale, Garden Club, Enterprise Club, and The Book Club all of Lake Charles. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, William John MacKay and Margaret Duncan MacKay, and two sisters, Eleanor Prillaman and Isabel Perinka. 

Those left to cherish her memory are her sisters, Ann MacKay Eisen of Lake Charles and Margaret  MacKay  Belardo (Pre’) of Newark, Del.; nieces and nephews, Eric Eisen, Peter Eisen (Ashley), Bruce Eisen (Kristie), Barbara Prillaman (Francisco), Brenda Prillaman, Rob Perinka (Lisa), and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.  

A gathering of family and friends will be from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 at J.E. Hixson in the Chapel of Peace, 3001 Ryan St., Lake Charles, La.  

Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.JEHixson.com for the MacKay family.