James B. McKeon

1925 - 2018

James B. (Jim) McKeon

Plymouth - 92 went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, surrounded by his family. Born July 18, 1925 to Paul and Edith (Trollman) in Fenton MI, he was their only child to be born in a hospital and is survived by his sister Eileen Fous, 97 (Flint) and Jack, 89 (Ann Arbor). He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Shirley (nee Scott), brother Charles (Bloomfield Hills) and sister Mary Mora (Flint). He is survived by his 6 children: Marcie (Ron) Foster; Jim (Carol); Jean (Chuck) Martin; Rebecca (Richard) Horvath; Karen Holstad; Janet (Bruce) Lillie; 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grand children. Jim grew up on a family farm in Fenton, and enjoyed telling stories of daily life during the 1930's. He made history come alive from his recollections of hitching up draft horses, winters without central heat, Christmas' with homemade gifts, feeding cats while milking cows, trading a goat for a doctors house call and many more. Jim attended Fenton High School, playing football and baseball. Football was played without face masks resulting in an occasional dentist visit after a game. Baseball was much simpler and Jim claimed to be quite skilled at making bats on a lathe. He was on the Student Council at Fenton and President of the 1944 Senior Class. Notwithstanding his farm deferment, after graduation Jim enlisted in the Navy. The GI bill earned him a trip to MSU where he continued his interest in serving others by finding homes for persons displaced by the war. He was elected to MSU's Student Council and served as its President. He graduated in 1949 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation he worked at Detroit Radiator followed shortly by Ford Tractor. During this period Jim became a Professional Engineer, but more importantly he spotted another Fenton graduate - Shirley Scott, Fenton's 1st homecoming queen - who was attending Wayne State. Through careful study of class times and bus schedules Jim carefully planned what Shirley thought was a chance meeting. In the late 1950's Jim moved from Ford Tractor to Distribution Services Inc. (DSI), which moved to Plymouth in 1962. In 1965 Jim designed and built the company's main production area that was the largest clear span area on the country at the time. In 1985 he also built the Hamilton Street plant and later was an instrumental member of the Board of Directors at the at the time of the Company's sale. In 1973 he began McKeon, Inc. Real Estate, his many business interests continued to keep him involved in property management and commercial investments. Community concerns have always been an important factor to Jim. He has been an advisor to Junior Achievement, and the Boy Scouts. He served on the Plymouth City Commission from 1966 through 1973, as a Commissioner, Mayor pro-tem and Mayor. As Mayor he visited Plymouth, England and hosted the Mayor of Plymouth England during his time in Michigan. Jim has served on the Board of Directors of the Schoolcraft Development Authority, the Board of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, and since 1962 a member of the Kiwanis Club as well as a dedicated and involved member of Our Lady of Good Counsel's congregation. He was very honored when he was named to the Plymouth Hall of Fame. When Jim needed to relax he enjoyed cultivating roses, a fine green lawn, time at his cabin on Burt Lake, but mostly telling and re-telling his grandchildren stories of his childhood growing up on a farm. Visitation Sunday, February 25th 2-7 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 W. Ann Arbor Rd., (Between Sheldon & Beck) Plymouth. Rosary Sunday 4 PM. In state Monday, February 26th 9:30 AM until the 10 AM Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 47650 N. Territorial Rd., Plymouth. Interment Riverside Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Community Foundation of Plymouth, or the Plymouth Kiwanis Foundation. To share a memory, please visit vermeulenfuneralhome.com