Robert Francis Mckamey

With heavy hearts we announce that Robert F. McKamey (Bob) died at home on August 31, 2024, at the age of 76. Beloved husband, father, brother, teacher, and musician, he was born in Tacoma on May 9, 1948 to Frances and G. Robert McKamey, the third of 6 children. He graduated from Bellarmine High School, and then from Central Washington State College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After two years of teaching high school in Ellensburg, he attended the University of Washington where he earned his Master of Science in Physics in 1973.

On March 29, 1973 he married his wife Ellen, and they journeyed to Australia where he taught for two years. They returned to the states and moved to Tacoma, and that fall he began teaching at Bellarmine high school. He supported the growth of students by sharing his love of science, math and electronics, as well as sharing his music in service to his faith at services and other events. He eventually won the Elizabeth Kelly award. After more than 34 years, he retired from Bellarmine and taught part time at TCC. His career as a church musician began at St Patrick Church when he was in high school, continued through college and his early teaching years in Ellensburg and Australia, and then when he returned to Tacoma, he returned to St Patrick. A few years later he began playing at St Charles Borromeo as well.

Gone before him are both his parents, Frances and G. Robert (Bob) McKamey, and his brother Joseph (Joe) McKamey

He is survived by Ellen, his wife of 51 years, their three children, Jennifer, Sean and Tom, his son in law Tom, a grandson Alex, and 4 beloved siblings and their wives: his brother Mike and Mike's wife Bobby, his brother Tim and Tim's wife Kathy, his sisters Terese and Fran, and their families.

He was a steadfast and generous friend, teacher, mentor, choir director, brother, father and husband. He was funny, kind, and unassuming in life.

We invite those who knew and cared for him to join us in remembering a life well lived and in saying farewell September 19th at St. Charles Borromeo Church at 6 PM for a vigil service and/or September 20th at St Patrick Church at 11 AM for his funeral.