THOMAS MCKEEN

THOMAS MCKEEN HOWE - Thomas Kevin McKeen peacefully went home to the Lord June 9, 2023. He fought a brave battle with liver cancer and died at home surrounded by his family. Graveside: 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 19, 2023, at Greenwood Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Texas. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood. Thomas was born June 4, 1957, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to then Major Chester M and Virginia (Pierce) McKeen. He shared that birthday for 66 years with his sister Karin, born seven years earlier. Thomas and his family moved to a variety of military stations that included Virginia, Massachusetts, Germany, Iran and Texas. He graduated from Fort Hunt High School in Alexandria in 1975. Thomas will be remembered as the steadfast rock for his sons and an honest, dedicated employee with a dry sense of humor. He was celebrated for his leadership and expertise in every professional endeavor, including successful careers as retail managers for Radio Shack, and Michaels, and significant impacts through sales and growth leadership in the Roofing Industry with Tuttle Roofing in Fort Worth and Wortham Bros. Roofing in the Texoma area of Texas. Tom was a lifelong boy scout and mentor, teaching practical skills to others. His hobbies included intricate leatherwork, bird and wildlife watching, gardening, cooking, and golfing, through which Tom established deep relationships with his family, friends and peers. His strong character reinforced these relationships with loyalty, trust, honor, kindness, and an overall sense of duty. Through his words of wisdom, spiritual guidance, lessons of morality, examples of kindness, and brotherly love, his influence was profound. His sons give him credit for their success in life. Tom's principles can be summarized in the following Bible verse: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those whose listen... Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (NIV, Ephesians 4:29, 31-32) Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Virginia McKeen, and his brother, David Richard. Survivors: Sister, Karin Frazier; stepmother, Sally W. McKeen; three sons, Ron Denison, Aaron McKeen and wife, Asami, and Mathew McKeen; and his loyal canine companion, Rhett Butler. In lieu of flowers, donations to Home Hospice of Grayson County, PO Box 2305, Sherman, Texas 75092; or Philmont Staff Association Annual Fund online donations at https://www.philstaff.org/donate/annual-fund/ would be greatly appreciated.