Richard Carl “Mac” MacKellar
August 19th, 1941 - January 15th, 2024
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Mac's Obituary
Richard Carl “Mac” MacKellar, 82, of Lawton, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 15, 2024 at his home in Lawton. He was born August 19, 1941 in Lawton, MI to Carl and Marvel (Abbott) MacKellar.
Mac developed a love of airplanes early in life-a passion shared by his dad and brother, Wendell- and even got in trouble for clipping the wing of his dad’s plane during a landing in his high school years. Mac earned his associate degree in aircraft mechanics at Western Michigan University and worked as an aircraft mechanic at Dowagiac Airmotive for many years. In 1967, Mac helped launch the Aircraft Mechanic Certification Program at Southwestern Michigan College and would remain the airframe/power plant instructor there until 2004. During those same years, Mac was a partner in AVSAT, a fixed base operations company located at Benton Harbor Airport that sold aircraft fuel, provided aircraft maintenance for any private and corporate planes, and offered flying lessons and charter pilot services.
Mac enjoyed building experimental aircraft and attending the Osh Gosh EAA fly-in. He maintained and flew his own airplane and loved landing it on the grass airstrip at his brother Wendell’s house. In addition to his love of planes, Mac enjoyed boating and sailing. He and his wife, Sheila, spent many hours on the water and would often cruise up the coast of Lake Michigan to Frankfort in the summer.
Mac is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sheila (Goodwin) MacKellar, whom he married on May 14, 2004 in Maui; his daughters, Lisa (Steve) McKeeby, and Sue (Gary) Losey; his stepchildren, Mike (Nicky) Harrell, Tucker (Kay) Ballinger, and Lisa (Kyle) Littrell; his grandchildren, Nicholas McKeeby, Kelsey (Jeff) Blazoff, Emily (Aaron) Field, Greg (DiMarie) Losey, Justin (Maria) Losey, Benton Ballinger, Bella Ballinger, Leelon Harrell, MacKenzie Harrell, Kaitlyn Nealis, and Jeremiah Littrell; his great grandchildren, Henry, Ava, and Bentley; and his brother, Kenneth (Yvonne) MacKellar.
He is preceded in death by his siblings, Donald, Wendell, and Marian; and his parents.
Cremation services have taken place. A celebration of Mac’s life will be held at a later date.
Mac developed a love of airplanes early in life-a passion shared by his dad and brother, Wendell- and even got in trouble for clipping the wing of his dad’s plane during a landing in his high school years. Mac earned his associate degree in aircraft mechanics at Western Michigan University and worked as an aircraft mechanic at Dowagiac Airmotive for many years. In 1967, Mac helped launch the Aircraft Mechanic Certification Program at Southwestern Michigan College and would remain the airframe/power plant instructor there until 2004. During those same years, Mac was a partner in AVSAT, a fixed base operations company located at Benton Harbor Airport that sold aircraft fuel, provided aircraft maintenance for any private and corporate planes, and offered flying lessons and charter pilot services.
Mac enjoyed building experimental aircraft and attending the Osh Gosh EAA fly-in. He maintained and flew his own airplane and loved landing it on the grass airstrip at his brother Wendell’s house. In addition to his love of planes, Mac enjoyed boating and sailing. He and his wife, Sheila, spent many hours on the water and would often cruise up the coast of Lake Michigan to Frankfort in the summer.
Mac is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sheila (Goodwin) MacKellar, whom he married on May 14, 2004 in Maui; his daughters, Lisa (Steve) McKeeby, and Sue (Gary) Losey; his stepchildren, Mike (Nicky) Harrell, Tucker (Kay) Ballinger, and Lisa (Kyle) Littrell; his grandchildren, Nicholas McKeeby, Kelsey (Jeff) Blazoff, Emily (Aaron) Field, Greg (DiMarie) Losey, Justin (Maria) Losey, Benton Ballinger, Bella Ballinger, Leelon Harrell, MacKenzie Harrell, Kaitlyn Nealis, and Jeremiah Littrell; his great grandchildren, Henry, Ava, and Bentley; and his brother, Kenneth (Yvonne) MacKellar.
He is preceded in death by his siblings, Donald, Wendell, and Marian; and his parents.
Cremation services have taken place. A celebration of Mac’s life will be held at a later date.
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