McNISH, ROY FREDERICK, of Clarkston, MI, 75, went to heaven on Monday, October 14, 2019, with his wife and daughter by his side at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital. Named after two of his paternal uncles, he was born on Christmas day in 1943 in Saginaw, MI to the late George and Arlene (née Nash) McNish. He graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1961. He studied accounting and graduated in 1966 from Michigan State University. Roy married Karen Rae 53 years ago on April 23, 1966. He retired from General Motors/EDS in 2001 after a 35-year career in accounting, information systems, and market strategy. Roy worked and raised his family in Saginaw, Kokomo, IN, and Clarkston. He enjoyed working in the automotive industry, and fondly recalled his business trips to Germany in the latter part of his career. Roy also enjoyed woodworking and carpentry, building a fire in his wood burning stove, cooking, specifically making peanut brittle during the holidays, and most of all, spending time with his family at the cottage on Torch Lake. Roy is survived by his wife, Karen (née Rae); three children, Jeffery (Amy) McNish of Crozet, VA; Kristine McNish Ford of Hartford, WI; Jason (Dr. Heidi Morgan) McNish of Mooresville, NC. Affectionately known as Papa, he loved the laughter of his six grandchildren - Hope, Gavin, Ian, Kalley, Katelyn, and Nora. Also surviving are his sisters and a brother, Mary Ann (R. Grant) Smith of Saginaw; Kathryn (James) Schofield of Freeland; Thomas (Barbara) McNish of Parker, CO; sisters-in-law, Nancy (David) Neal of Ann Arbor, and Joann (Dr. Forest) Hayes of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and six nieces and six nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Elaine Rae and Bernard and Katherine Rae; brother-in-law, Robert Rae; and a nephew.

Service

Saturday, October 19, 2019 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Coats Funeral Home-Clarkston 8909 Dixie Highway Clarkston 48348, United States