John Edward Kehoe
October 12, 1933 - April 27, 2024
Lakewood, Washington - It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. John Edward Kehoe (Jack), age 90. He passed away peacefully on April 27, 2024 in Lakewood, WA with family by his side.
He was born on October 12, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama to a young mother, Frances Hendry, and father Eugene Creel. Frances and Jack moved frequently during his childhood. After a particularly tough time as a kid, Jack spent a year with his beloved paternal Aunt Mary. Soon after, things turned around for Jack. He attended Wake Forest University, followed by Wake Forest Medical School (formerly Bowman Grey) graduating with his Medical Degree in 1960.
He met his first wife, Dorothy "Dotty" (McKenna) Kehoe while working summers at The Wentworth by the Sea in New Hampshire. They married in 1956. Jack's first job as a doctor was as an Intern at Madigan Army Hospital at Ft. Lewis. Army moves took them from Washington to Alaska, Washington DC, North Carolina and Massachusetts. They had 3 children: Eric and identical twins, Sharon and Laura. After moving to Massachusetts, Dotty and Jack divorced.
In 1969, after serving a year in Vietnam, he was honorably discharged and began a 10-year stint in private practice in Washington D.C. He married Linda (Martin) Kehoe in 1972. They had one daughter, Shoshana. He reenlisted in 1977, and was stationed at Ft. Mead, MD where he served as Chief of Psychiatry. As such, he treated numerous patients, including John Hinckley after his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
He started his second overseas tour in Korea in 1982, spending a year before returning to the States. In 1984 the Army reassigned him to Joint Base Lewis McChord (Ft. Lewis) in Washington where he remained until his military retirement in 1988. He retired as a full bird colonel after 20 years of outstanding service to his country. A decorated officer, he twice received the Army's Meritorious Service Medal.
Jack followed his military career by opening a private practice in Olympia and continued his tireless dedication to helping his patients until retiring for good in 2008. He truly loved his career as a psychiatrist and felt deeply honored to work with people from all walks of life including members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. In his later years, Jack joined a coffee klatch in Lakewood where he enjoyed some of his closest friendships.
Jack's enjoyment of books, music, cooking, art, history, science and current events (In particular, MSNBC's Nicole Wallace and Rachel Maddow) was only surpassed by his love for his family and friends. At any given moment, he was reading five books while preparing supper and listening to the blues on Saturday night NPR. While he enjoyed the finer things, in 1981, he purchased his final vehicle, a blue Mercedes, that is still running and now cared for by one of his daughters.
Jack is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda Kehoe, younger sister Deborah Kehoe Wade, son Eric (Heather Roberts) of Seattle, daughters Sharon (Daniel) Miller of Cody, Wyoming, Laura (Karen Gallegos) of Clifton, Virginia and Shoshana (Marc Ehlers) of Olympia along with grandchildren: Sierra, Wyatt, Mia and Curtis, and numerous close friends. In recognition of Jack's dedicated service, a ceremony with full military honors will be held at 11:30 a.m. on June 12th at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington, where his cremated remains will be interred. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Memorials can be made to Northwest Battle Buddies at
www.northwestbattlebuddies.orgPublished by The Olympian on May 24, 2024.