Mr. John James Keoughan

"Well done good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:23

Our Dad was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Annie Edna Keoughan, and along with his 2 younger brothers Chuck and Skip, devoted himself to looking after her when she was widowed early in their lives. Times were difficult then, it was a hard struggle for Nana and left its mark on Dad and his brothers. Each of her son's joined a branch of the service very early on in their lives to help the family get by.

A Veteran of the Korean War, Dad proudly lived his life in service to his country. He enlisted in and was Honorably Discharged by the Marine Corps, the Army and the National Guard. He obtained the rank of Staff Sargent while in the Army, receiving a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and many service ribbons. During his tour of duty dad served as an Army Medic, and became a Surgical and X-ray Technician in the process. He later used those skills as an X-Ray Technician for the Carney Hospital in Boston, where he met and married our Mom, Virginia O’Neil. They went on to raise four daughters together, living in Boston, New York, California and Hawaii, with many good memories over the next 20 years before amicably divorcing.

Dad began his career in civil service as a Border Control Agent in Calexico, California, a Public Health Officer in Staten Island, New York, and ultimately as the OIC for the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii . He was a well-respected and well-loved colleague and friend and had wonderful memories of his life there.

Dad and Mom loved Hawaii, and the family spent well over 20 years there. An avid photographer, Dad took many beautiful pictures during our life in Hawaii, and was proud to be able to bring his mother out, and have family come visit us there. It was a beautiful time in our lives.

He retired from the INS and joined Hilo Hospital as the Director of X-ray Services in Hilo, Hawaii. He particularly delighted in helping the Hilo Zoo with their animal patients as well. He fully retired and moved to Hutto, Texas to live with his youngest daughter, Virginia Millard and her family, who tenderly cared for him throughout his retirement and final days.

Dad loved travel, and did a great deal of it during his work for the INS. He’s been to Russia, China, Japan, the Philippines, Germany, Prague, his favorite of all, Ireland, and places too numerous to mention. He loved good food, (our mother’s spaghetti sauce being one of his favorites) and growing up going out to a nice dinner with Mom and Dad was a rite of passage for us girls. He loved music, particularly The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli; spy novels from Tom Clancy and anything and everything Irish, but most of all, his daughters.

Dad led by example and taught us the meaning of integrity, justice, courtesy, and kindness. He encouraged us to be independent in our thoughts and actions, and advised and supported us in our choices. Dad was generous, and worked extremely hard to ensure we were well taken care of, and knew and valued the dignity of work in our own lives as well.

Our Dad was preceded in death by his grandparents Martin and Josephine (Fahie) Keoughan, his parents James Clark and Annie Edna Keoughan Edwards, his brother Charles Keone, and in-laws Rita (O’Neil) and Roger Clifford, and Arnie (Elaine) Miller.

He is survived by his youngest brother, Paul “Skip” Edwards; in-laws, Joan and Jimmy Murphy, Elaine O’Neil Miller, and Bill and Joanne O’Donoghue; and many beautiful nieces and nephews, all from Massachusetts. He also is survived by his daughters, Jacqueline (Felipe) Ontiveros of Utah, Jessica Keoughan of North Carolina, Jennifer Keoughan (Reuben Neumann) of Utah, and Virginia Millard (Steve Habel) of Texas; his grandchildren, Penelope Ontiveros, Camille Millard, Grace Millard and Nikolas Habel, who will continue to remember him with love and gratitude for a life well lived, and a legacy of duty, compassion and love of family.

A private service will be held for the immediate family, followed by interment of his cremains with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas at later date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, Dad would ask that a contribution be made to: St. Jude Children's Research - in the name of John Keoughan, using the following link: http://giftfunds.stjude.org/JohnKeoughan, or any charity of your choosing, with warm thanks for your kindness.