April 26, 1929 – May 6, 2019

The Rev. George R. Mackey, rector of St. Peter’s Church, Santa Maria, from 1985 to 1999, died at his home in Santa Maria on May 6. He was 90.

Survivors include his wife, the Rev. Judith P. Mackey, deacon at St. Peter’s, to whom he was married in 1977. A service will be held on Saturday, June 8, 4 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church, 402 S. Lincoln Street, Santa Maria 93458 (805.922.3575).

After retiring from St. Peter’s, he served from 2002 to 2007 at St. James’ Church, Birstwith, North Yorkshire, England.

During his tenure at St. Peter’s he was active in the local community, serving as human resources commissioner for Santa Barbara County. He was on the local hospice board and the bio-ethics board for Santa Maria Valley Community Hospital. He also took an active role in the Good Samaritan Shelter. He enjoyed local cultural events such as theater, music and art exhibits, as well as golfing, cooking and travel.

Before moving to California he served several congregations in Wyoming (All Souls, Edgerton; Christ Church, Glenrock; and Church of Holy Communion, Rock Springs) and Oregon (St. Paul’s, Salem; St. James’, Coquille; St Mark’s, Myrtle Point; St Paul’s, Powers).

Born April 26, 1929 in Casper, Wyoming, Mackey earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska in 1958 and worked in the petroleum industry and in retail. He completed a master of divinity degree from CDSP in 1966 and was ordained by Bishop James Hunter in Wyoming that same year.