He was born January 13, 1936, in Pettis County, Missouri, the son of James Floyd and Loueva (Janney) McKeehan.
James grew up in Lamonte, Missouri. He graduated from Lamonte High School with the Class of 1954. That same year, he met the lovely Shirley Manns. They were married on August 7, 1954, celebrating 72 years of wedded bliss. They made their home in Kansas City, Missouri. James worked for Certain Teed for 40 years, retiring in 1996.
Though James was never one to sit still very long, he started volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and continued there for 20 years. He also volunteered at his community pool doing repairs, painting, and mowing the grounds. James and Shirley attended Northmoor United Methodist Church in Northmoor.
James and Shirley both enjoyed gardening and raised many tomatoes, green beans, and zucchini, which they happily shared with all their neighbors.
His greatest passion was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Loueva McKeehan; five brothers, Wilson McKeehan, Leroy McKeehan, Homer McKeehan, Gale McKeehan, and infant brother, Joseph McKeehan; three sisters, May Brown, Jessie Wolpers, and Sue Sole; and one daughter-in-law, Rhonda McKeehan.
James is survived by his wife, Shirley McKeehan; three children, Denise Van Horn (Tim) of Gladstone, Missouri, Debby Snoke (Ed) of Kearney, Missouri, Jim McKeehan of Blue Springs, Missouri; four grandchildren, Leslie, Joseph, Ryan, and Melissa; six great grandchildren, Trent, Erin, Chase, Carter, Cora, and Landon.
A visitation for James will be held from 10AM to 11AM on Monday, August 31, 2026, at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, Missouri, 64119. A Celebration of Life will begin at 11AM, with committal immediately following in White Chapel Cemetery.
