John Mackey passes away

by Julia Stuble

Pinedale resident and attorney John Mackey passed away on Sunday, May 6. Mackey had lived in Pinedale since 1950, when he opened his law office here. Mackey was very active in the community, serving as town and county attorney and maintaining his private practice. His exemplar community spirit took him from serving in government to shoveling snow and ice in front of the Post Office in the winter, to being the sole Pinedale resident at a Big Piney parade.

“Working with him was always a pleasure,” commented Town Attorney Ed Wood. “John was just a delightful man.” For about 30 years, between 1950 and 1982, Wood said Mackey served “off and on” as the county attorney, alternating stints with attorney Bob Sievers. Mackey was born in Omaha, Nebraska on Dec. 6, 1917. He was raised during the Depression years and attended the University of Nebraska before enlisting in the Army air corps.

He served four years during the World War II as a P-38 pilot. He spent a year and a half of that time in the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska. After the war, Mackey attended the University of Wyoming’s law school, and graduated in 1948.

In June of 1984, Mackey was appointed the Town Attorney, and served in that post for several years. He also served on the Town Council. “He wanted to do what was right for the community,” remembered former Roundup reporter Annie O’Brien. “He never saw people he disagreed with as villains or enemies.” Working with Mackey, O’Brien said, was “just wonderful.”

“He was so smart and inisghtful and kind. He always had the larger picture in mind.” The family will hold a memorial service later in the summer. Funeral arrangements are pending.