Updated May 13, 2010

Born:
February 12, 1951 in Argentia, Newfoundland to Elizabeth (Mackie) and Frank Baker Bennett
 
My father was in the US Air Force, and was of Scottish and Irish descent which I am still researching. His mother’s people came to America in the early 1800's. His father's side arrived possibly as early as prior to the war for independence. My mother's parents were married and had their first three children in Glasgow, Scotland. Her father, Thomas Struthers Mackie served in the Royal Highland Brigade in World War I. He worked in the Glasgow ship yards as a ship's carpenter.
 
I left Newfoundland at age 8 months and moved to Oklahoma, Florida and then to California. At age four we moved to Japan. I returned to the US just in time to start the first grade. I attended Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Kansas, Germany and England before graduating at Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I met and married my husband, Steven, at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, where he and my father were stationed in 1970. Both of our children, Steven Jr. and Jennifer were born there.
 
Steven and I traveled, on US Air Force orders, from North Carolina to upstate New York and then to California where I entered college at Merced Community College to study anthropology and archeology. From California we moved to Maine where I finished my AS degree and began my BA at University of Maine at Presque Isle. Steve retired from the Air Force at Loring AFB in 1990. Since we arrived in Maine I had various jobs in retail sales, and floral design. I did free-lance photographic work and worked for six years as a congressional district staff assistant.
 
We have been restoring a 120 year old farm house in Presque Isle and have settled in the community as have our children, both married and have presented us with three, soon to be four, grandchildren.
 
I have been an active member of the Saint Andrew's Society of Maine and a Lifetime member of the Clan MacKay for many years.

In April of 2010, Michelle said in her letter to the Executive Board, "I have immense respect and regard
for the Clan Society and for the officers and members I have worked with over the years.
Being a Life Time Member of the Clan Mackay Society, a State Commissioner, a Regional Vice president,
Interim Vice President, Elected Vice President, Interim President and finally Elected President
has put me in touch with every aspect of what it meant to be part of a family that most people will never experience. The extended family of Clansmen experience is remarkable and very fulfilling, but now I need to be a full time wife, mother and grandmother."

She went on to say, "I will remain a life time member of the Clan Mackay Society and maintain my seat on the Executive Board under the conditions set out in the by-laws and I may decide to serve in another capacity in the future if there is a need and our situation changes. I wish Mark a hardy and productive administration and will support him in any way I am able."

Fare Well Michelle and Good Luck and Wishes for Much Success to Mark and Charles!