Roy Mackey

June 24, 1956-Sept. 20, 2023

Roy Mackey of Shell passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2023. 

Roy was born in Bradford, Pa., on June 24, 1956, and grew up with a love of hunting and fly-fishing. He graduated from Bradford High School in 1974. He moved with his family to Bozeman in 1987 and then to his current home in Shell in 1993. 

Roy was a true artisan Western hatmaker. He crafted his customers’ hats in his garage workshop in Shell, and these hats are cherished by their owners around the world. People who own a Mackey hat know the quality, customer service and distinctive touch that Roy put into each hat he made. They are not only good-looking hats but stand up to all conditions thrown at them. 

Roy’s family, friends and neighbors will miss his tall, quiet presence in the Shell Valley. He was a devoted son who cared for his mother, a good neighbor and an honest man. In addition to his hat making, Roy had many hobbies over the years. Hunting, fly-fishing, riding horses, cowboy mounted shooting, and reading Western literature were just a few of his pastimes. He also loved spending time in the Big Horn Mountains. 

Roy is preceded in death by his father James Mackey and his brother Lee Mackey. 

Roy is survived by his loving mother Joan Mackey of Shell and his sisters Karen Oleksa and Linda Merritt. 

Per his family’s request, there will be no memorial service.