Education
She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music to study piano performance.
She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music to study piano performance.
Known as "Ray" throughout her life, McKay was born Emma Ray Riggs in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. After returning to Utah, she was one of six students to be awarded degrees from the University of Utah in 1898 where she had attended the Department of Music. While teaching at Madison Elementary School in Ogden, Utah, David O. McKay proposed marriage to her.
The McKay Music Library at the University of Utah is named in her honor.
Utah Mother of the Year Award
honorary doctorate in humanities from Utah Agricultural College
Outstanding Woman Award from Brigham Young University
Eternal Quest of Womanhood Award from Utah State University.