BRIDGEWATER – Ethna Elenor “Joan” McGarry McKeen, 91, passed away gracefully May 2, 2013, at The Aroostook Health Center, Mars Hill, after a short stay. Joan, as she was known to everyone, was born Dec. 31, 1921, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the youngest of nine children to William and Bridget McGarry.
Joan was a nursing student during World War II at Surbrookshire England, when she met William McKeen, a U.S. 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 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 a 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 wife, Carla, of Bridgewater, Garry McKeen and wife, Myrna, of Presque Isle, Brent McKeen and wife, Barbara, of Mars Hill and Carolyn and husband, Robert Brewer, of Bridgewater; grandchildren, William A McKeen and wife, Angela, of Lewiston, Stephanie McKeen Caverhill of Caribou, Wade McKeen and wife, Jennifer, of Mars Hill, Jason Brewer and wife, Danielle, of Easton, Brennan Brewer and wife, Elizabeth, of Mars Hill, Aarone Durocher and husband, Dave, of Portland, Garry A. McKeen of Casa Grande Ariz., and Marianne Murchison Craig of South Carolina; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Winifred of New Zealand; and many nieces and nephews in Presque Isle, Mars Hill, Australia, Toronto and Northern Ireland. Joan was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, William; brothers, John, Bill, Ronnie, James and 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 will only be a graveside committal service for family and friends 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater, with Pastor Lawrence Beals officiating. Donations in Ethna’s memory may be sent to Aroostook Cancer Care, care of TAMC, 140 Academy St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements by Duncan-Graves Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
ETHNA ELENOR ‘JOAN’ MCGARRY MCKEEN
