Obituary of John McNally

John M. McNally John "Jack" McNally, 56, of Lake Placid, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Uihlein Living Center in Lake Placid following a long courageous battle with a rare brain disease. He was surrounded by his family when he passed. Jack was born in Ticonderoga, NY on April 11, 1959 to the late John and Leona (Gonyea) McNally. He lived in Olmstedville, NY for most of his life, then moved to Lake Placid in 1997 where he married Penny (Peck) McNally on September 21, 1997. Jack graduated from Minerva Central School in 1977 and worked as a carpenter for several years before going to work as a Bridge Repair Mechanic for the NYS Department of Transportation in 1984. He made many good friends at the DOT and was fondly referred to as "Catman" by his co-workers. He retired in 2013 with 29 years of service. Jack was a happy Irishman who always saw the good in everyone and everything. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful smile and stated frequently, even during his illness, how much he loved life. Jack was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and felt that everything north of the Hudson River should be New England. A very skilled carpenter, he built two homes in the Adirondacks. The most recent, their family home in Lake Placid. Jack took great pride in his work and loved the Adirondack great camp style of home. He also built an Adirondack lean-to in his backyard to enjoy summer campfires with friends and family. Jack was an excellent skier and spent as much time as he could shredding at Whiteface and Gore Mountains in the winter months. He was an accomplished hunter and fly-fisherman and was always out searching for the elusive whitetail or a 4-pound brookie. Jack was also a very proud Adirondack 46er, and loved to join his friends on hikes when they were working on their own 46. In the 56 short years that Jack lived, he accomplished many great things. He lived a very full life. But even more than that, he loved those around him greatly and was loved greatly in return. I can honestly say that Jack's wasn't just a life well-lived, it was a life well-loved. His loving family includes his wife, Penny, his step-daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and Joshua Dettman of Greece, NY, who he loved like his own. Also, his three sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan (Robert) Mueller, Judy (Jack) Vanderwarker, Shirley (Carl) Olden; and a sister-in-law Diane McNally, all of Olmstedville; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and his loyal 4-legged fur buddy, Dexter, whom he adored. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Thomas McNally, and an Uncle, Chester McNally. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid on Saturday, March 26, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid, on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 11:00 AM with Father John Yonkovig officiating. Burial will be in the North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid, overlooking the Sentinel Range, Jack's favorite hunting grounds. The family would like to thank the Sisters, the Nurses and Aides on Unit 4, and the Activities staff at Uihlein Living Center, for their care and compassion during this difficult time. Memorial donations in Jack's memory may be made to Mercy Care of the Adirondacks, c/o Uihlein Living Center, 185 Old Military Road, Lake Placid; or CUREPSP (Foundation for PSP / CBD and Related Brain Diseases), 30 E. Padonia Road, Ste. 201, Timonium, MD 21093. http://www.curepsp.org/ .