Patrick James "PJ" McNamara

Patrick James "PJ" McNamara, 59, of Grayling, passed away on January 20, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Catharine (Katy), his sons, Alex and Richard (Rocky), his mother, Maureen (Mo), his siblings Michael (Beverly), Mary Liz (Rick Schlosser), Shannon (Mike Verklan) and Shawn Riley (Stacey). He was preceded in death by his father, Larry. PJ was proud to be a lifelong Grayling resident. He was born on November 8, 1957 and grew up on Peninsular Avenue. A graduate of Grayling High School, he earned his pharmacy degree from Ferris State University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity. After college, he joined his father, Larry, and his brother, Mike, at the family business, Mac's Drug Store, in Grayling. He later went on to have a successful career as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Syntex (later Roche) Pharmaceuticals. While at Ferris, he met another pharmacy student, Katy Shuster. Throughout his life, whenever he was asked about his greatest accomplishment, he would always reply, "Convincing the college homecoming queen to marry me." PJ and Katy were married for 34 wonderful years and raised their sons, Alex and Rocky, on the lake they all loved, Lake Margrethe. He was a fearless downhill skier, loved water skiing, with or without the skis, snowmobiling, driving his red Corvette and riding his motorcycle. PJ liked to go fast and have fun. He was an avid hunter and looked forward every year to spending deer season at the Hoot Owl Hunt Club with family and friends. PJ died at home on January 20th, surrounded by his family, after a 17-year struggle with brain cancer. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends, but he will live on in the countless stories that begin with "Remember the time that PJ." Visitation will take place on Monday, January 23rd, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm (rosary at 6 pm) at the Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25th, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grayling. Please share "PJ Stories," memories, or condolences at www.sorensonlockwood.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grayling Little League, P.O. Box 130, Grayling, MI 49738 or to Hospice of Helping Hands, 322 W. Houghton Ave., P.O. Box 307, West Branch, Michigan 48661. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Patrick James "PJ" McNamara, please visit our flower store.