Daniel H. Kearney Jr.

BRAINTREE Daniel H. Kearney, Jr., 89, of Braintree, died July 25, 2008 at the Coyne Healthcare Center in Rockland. He was the beloved husband of Frances (Burke) Kearney for 64 years, and father of Richard W. Kearney and his wife Linda of Hanover, Janice D. McKeever and her husband Joseph of Washington, D.C., Kevin D. Kearney and his wife Cynthia of Alachua, FL and Alan M. Kearney and his wife Dianne of Hingham. He also leaves his niece Andrea Gil and her husband Juan Antonio of Weymouth. Daniel is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Born in Boston, the son of the late Daniel H. and Johanna T. (Hurley) Kearney, Daniel made his home in Braintree with his wife and family for the past 35 years. Daniel was a graduate of the English High School in 1935. He later joined the Civil Conservation Corps, working with the organization in New Hampshire. On November 2, 1940, Daniel became the first volunteer for the U.S. Army from his Jamaica Plain draft district. He was a member of the Ninth Army, serving in an artillery battalion and was awarded various decorations including 2 Bronze Stars for Valor. Following his return from World War II, he began his career with the Boston Naval Shipyard where he worked in both the Charlestown and the South Boston Annex shipyards for thirty years, retiring as a Lead Man Electrician in 1976. Daniel was predeceased by his sisters, Mary McGowan and Mildred Haggerty as well as his granddaughter Kelly Kearney. Daniel was a great lover of animals, especially dogs. He was an avid walker, bicyclist and swimmer. For many summers he could be seen riding his bike to Sunset Lake for a daily swim. A gifted carpenter and woodworker, he enjoyed his workshop and completed many woodworking projects and handcrafted gifts for his family and friends. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Clare, 1244 Liberty St., Braintree Highlands. Visiting hours are omitted. Internment at the Braintree Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the McMaster Funeral Home, 86 Franklin St., Braintree. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made In Daniel's memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.