Joyce E. McKay, 83, of Derry, NH passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Joyce was born in Somerville, MA on June 26, 1942, the daughter of the late Albert and Anne (MacKenzie) Clough.
She was a devoted wife, caring mother and doting grandmother.
She married her husband, Doug, in 1962 and started a family that would grow to include four boys. Doug’s job with IBM would move the family around Massachusetts from Malden to Bellingham to Agawam. In 1979, it would move them to New Hampshire, where they chose to live in Derry at the encouragement of her close friend Lois (Dustin) Sutton, who had grown up there.
Shortly after moving to Derry, she began working at Hadco inspecting printed circuit boards. She spent more than two decades there and became the manager of the company’s final inspection room.
Even while working full-time, her focus was always on raising her four boys. In retirement, her focus became spoiling her four grandchildren, who were her pride and joy.
Joyce enjoyed spending time with her family and friends playing Keno, going to the theater, listening to music, and watching Celtic’s games, as she was an avid fan, She was a longtime member of the Halcyon Club where she was lovingly known as “Miss Joyce”.
She is survived by three sons; Kevin (Donna) McKay, Barry (Joanne) McKay, and James (Jill Lack) McKay, four grandchildren; Ben McKay, Curtis McKay, Will McKay and Jenna McKay, two brothers; Albert Clough and David Clough and his wife, Laura, as well as several nieces and nephews. Joyce was predeceased by her son, Douglas McKay in 2002 and her husband, Douglas McKay in 2003.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 5pm to 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 4 th at 10:00am in the funeral home. Burial will follow in
Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.