Deadwood, SD

MacKaye W. Smith was born in Danville, IL on December 26, 1943 and passed away on August 6, 2015, in Bellingham, Washington.

MacKaye graduated with a Master's Degree in Nuclear Science from Illinois and following several years of service to our country, he went on to spend many more years working in public service.

For 25 years he enjoyed logging hundreds of hours soaring the skies over the Warrenton Soaring Center, Virginia and Maryland in his high performance aircraft. Along with his love of soaring was a love of motorcycle riding, driving convertibles, and traveling. This love of traveling led him on extensive trips throughout all 50 states and several continents. One of his last excursions led him to taking part in a scientific research cruise to Antarctica. He was just embarking on a cruise in Alaska when he fell ill.

His last 12 years were spent traveling between Las Vegas NV in the winter and Dupree and Deadwood SD for the summer. While summering in Dupree SD, he helped with haying, branding, moving equipment, and in general, being a farm and ranch hand. After he moved to Deadwood for the summers, he spent many hours on his motorcycle and trike traveling the highways of the Black Hills. Due to failing health he spent the last three years cruising in his convertibles enjoying the same roads throughout the Black Hills.

Among MacKaye's survivors are a brother, Nathaniel C. Smith, Jr., a sister, Roseanne Henry, a nephew, Darren V. Weber and very special friends, Arlie Davis and Janie Davis of South Dakota, along with his many friends from the Warrenton Soaring Center, Virginia.

Inurnment will take place at 11:00 am, September 3, 2015 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com