Ethna Elenor (Joan) McGarry McKeen
MCKEEN, Ethna Elenor (Joan) McGarry, 91, BRIDGEWATER, at Mars HIll, May 2, 2013. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Homes, Mars Hill.
BRIDGEWATER – Ethna Elenor (Joan) McGarry McKeen, 91, passed away gracefully May 2, 2013, at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill after a short stay. Joan as she was known to everyone, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, December 31, 1921, the youngestof nine children. Joan was the daughter of William and Bridget McGarry.
Joan was a nursing student during WWII at Surbrookshire England, when she met William McKeen, an Army Yank with the 101 Airborne unit stationed at a nearby air strip. After a whirlwind romance of several months, they were married just before William shipped out to Germany. After the war was over, Joan made her way to New York via ship, and then on to Bridgewater, ME, by train, arriving in the middle of the night. Her visions of streets paved with “gold” were soon dashed the next morning when, in daylight, she found herself on a little farm in the “Northern Maine woods”, with no running water or sanitary facilities. She mastered the “outhouse” and the isolation of northern Maine to become the mother of four children and provide a wonderful home for her family, and a warm friendship to many friends and neighbors.
To Joan, raising a family was her primary duty, seed cutting in the spring and potato picking in the fall were given chores that wives were assumed to undertake during the child raising years, Joan was a 100 barrel/day picker and was in demand from local farmers. Later years found her supplementing the family income at Aroostook Shoe, Potato Service, and finally McCain Foods where she retired in 1994.
Joan is survived by her children, Kevin L. McKeen and his wife, Carla of Bridgewater, Garry McKeen and his wife, Myrna of Presque Isle, Brent McKeen and his wife, Barbara of Mars Hill, Carolyn and her husband, Robert Brewer of Bridgewater; grandchildren, William A. McKeen and his wife, Angela of Lewiston, Stephanie McKeen Caverhill of Caribou, Wade McKeen and his wife, Jennifer of Mars Hill, Jason Brewer and his wife, Danielle of Easton, Brennan Brewer and his wife, Elizabeth of Mars Hill, Aarone Durocher and husband, Dave of Portland, Garry A. McKeen of Casa Grande, AZ, and Marianne Murchison Craig of SC; 13 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Winifred of New Zealand; many nieces and nephews in Presque Isle, Mars Hill, Australia, Toronto Canada, Northern Ireland.
Joan was predececed by her husband of 58 years, William; and her brothers, John, Bill, Ronnie, James, Herbie; sister, Jose; and favorite sister-in-law, Opal McKeen.
Joan will always be remembered by her girlish giggle and positive outlook on life.
In accordance with Ethna’s wishes, there was only a graveside committal service for family and friends on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. in Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater, with Pastor Lawrence Beals officiating. Donations in Ethna’s memory may be sent to Aroostook Cancer Care c/o TAMC, 140 Academy St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements by Duncan-Graves Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www. duncan- graves.com.
