Richard McKeehan, beloved husband of Joy, beloved father of four sons, Richard, Tim, Patrick, and Kevin, and faithful friend of many, passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 at Eastview Manor Care Center, in Trenton, where Joy is also a resident.
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Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 at the First Christian Church of Trenton. Rev. Denise Turner will officiate.
A scheduled family visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007 at the Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home of Trenton. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 in the Bentonville City Cemetery in Bentonville, AR
Richard, by grace, through faith, is now delighting in more peace and happy activity in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ than any of us can imagine. The surviving family is grateful to God for the gift of Richard’s life on earth and the blessed assurance of his eternal home.
Richard was born in Elmhurst, IL, on June 14, 1928, making him 79 at his death. His early years were spent on a farm in Iowa but his family moved often as his parents followed opportunities for his father’s carpentry work.
Richard and Joy started their life together in Bentonville, AR, at a simple wedding at the pastor’s home on April 16, 1950. The four boys were born in Bentonville as well as a girl who was stillborn. Richard worked in rural electric cooperatives throughout his career, beginning as a helper to a lineman and advancing to achieve the highest position in the organization through a series of promotions and location changes.
The McKeehans moved from Bentonville to Berryville, AR, to Mena, AR, then to Dighton, KS, and finally to Trenton in 1973, where Richard held the position of General Manager of Grundy Electric Cooperative. In each place Richard and Joy worked hard to provide a loving home for their boys, were leaders in the local First Christian Church and volunteered often in church and community activities. Richard’s mother, the late Josephine McKeehan, was widowed early in Richard and Joy’s married life and from that point on she was a part of the household and was well cared for by them. Richard and Joy very much enjoyed their boys and their friends. The life of the McKeehans was characterized by family time around good meals, attending the boy’s sports and school events, going to church, involvement in community service groups, and Richard building a house for the family soon after each move. Richard had a great sense of humor, loved to learn new things and to make new friends, and was a gifted leader.
He liked fishing, he planted a wonderful vegetable garden every year, and he was good at woodworking, making many attractive and useful tables, bookcases, frames and other pieces for his family and friends.
Richard’s example of faithful labor and loyal and loving care for his family is a wonderful legacy he leaves to his children and grandchildren.
Richard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joy, four children and 10 grandchildren: Richard and wife Pat and son Spencer of Bentonville, AR; Tim and wife Coleen and children Jed, Nathan, Melissa, Emily, and Bradley of Knoxville, TN; Patrick and wife Mary and children Claire and Sam of Edwardsville, IL; and Kevin and wife Lisa and children Leslie (married to Carson Graff) and Sara of Lee’s Summit.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Josephine McKeehan, and by a stillborn daughter, Dee Ann, whom he now is getting to know in heaven.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Christian Church or the Grundy County Senior Center, these can be left at or mailed to Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, 813 Custer, Trenton, MO 64683.
(paid obituary)