James Patrick Keenan

1954 - 2024

James Patrick Keenan
01/07/1954 - 12/11/2024
"You win some, you lose some, but you have to dress for them all."
James Patrick Keenan, known as Jim, Jimmie, Keenan, Risuli, Special K, the Great James P, Dad, and Pap, was born in Spangler, Pennsylvania on January 7, 1954. Jim was welcomed into this world by his parents, Charles "Ted" Keenan & Bernice (Sullivan) Keenan, and his older brother Daniel "Dan" Keenan. After a blue collar upbringing in Western PA, Jim earned a full-ride football scholarship to Furman University, where he met the love of his life, Julie Elaine Jennings. They married on December 30, 1977 and ultimately landed in Houston, Texas, where Jim had a successful legal career and the couple raised three children. Jim packed a lot of living into his seventy years on this earth, and his big heart, larger than life stories, and tremendous sense of humor left a lasting impression on many. He left this world too soon on December 11, 2024.
In Jim's formative years, he excelled as a multi-sport athlete. He was even offered a minor league baseball contract by the Philadelphia Phillies, although he turned it down to pursue higher education. His brother & sister-in-law, Dianne, invited him to live with them in Steubenville, Ohio for his senior year of high school. That football season with Steubenville Big Red led to collegiate interest and ultimately made him a Furman Paladin. While at Furman, Jim developed many lifelong friendships with his football teammates and his brothers in the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He continued his education with a J.D. degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. Following graduation, Jim joined the Houston law firm of Bracewell & Patterson, as part of the trial section. After working his way up to partner, he ventured out with his close friend and mentor John Buck to start their own firm, Buck Keenan, which celebrates its 35th year on January 1, 2025. Jim was a gifted litigator who is remembered for his grace under pressure and skillful cross examinations.
Jim held many passions-he was an avid reader, top-notch cook, world traveler, and a fervent sports fan (Steel!)-but they all paled in comparison to his passion and love for his family. While separated by more than a decade, Jim and his older brother Dan were especially close. Jim's pride and joy was his immediate family of Julie, and his three children. He worked hard to provide for them, spend quality time with them, and keep them close, even as the kids grew up and spread their wings. After Jim and Julie became empty nesters, they spent more time traveling, especially to the family's house in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina where they played buddy golf and enjoyed beach walks with their latest boxer. As a proud Irish Catholic, Jim's faith was very important to him and he and Julie attended Mass every Sunday, no matter where they were.
Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Julie; daughter, Katie Rhymes and her husband Jonathan, son Ted Keenan, and son Frank Keenan and his wife Kelsey; three grandchildren, his namesake James Keenan, Daniel Rhymes, and Clay Keenan; sister-in-law, Dianne Keenan, brothers-in-law, Michael Jennings and wife Sandy, Wesley Jennings, and many nephews and nieces. He finds eternal peace alongside his parents, Ted & Bernice, his brother Dan, his third-born child, Joseph Patrick "Joe" Keenan, and a host of other characters from the Keenan clan and his colorful past.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church (2140 Westheimer Rd) on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: https://catholiccharities.org/donate/