Richard Keenam

2022 at his home from surgery complications. A Memorial Service is to be

held in the Spring at a later time.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, J.B. and Gratia Hicks Keenam of Jasper, Alabama; Sister, Donia Keenam Dukes, and brother-in- law,

Earl Dukes of Smyrna, TN.

He was survived by his sister, Shirley Keenam Curry (Irv) of Merritt Island,

TN; a niece, Christy Curry and three nephews, Richard and Alan Dukes,

and Steve Curry; Honorary brother, Steve Borrelli of Tuscaloosa, AL and

honorary sister, Barb Borrelli of Elmira, NY.

Donald “Richard” Keenam was born in raised in Jasper AL, where he was

drum major of the Walker Vikings High School Marching Band. A lifelong

musician, he was a proud member of UA’s Million Dollar Band under Colonel Carleton Butler, and in the Army he served in the 76th Army Band in

Orleans, France. He worked in sales and public relations for several years, for

Republic Steel and Kerns United in Chicago and Ivan Allen in Atlanta. He

then transitioned to the field of information management (in the pre-computer era), working in both Georgia and Nebraska State Governments (in

Nebraska, he served as State Director of Forms Management). His fanatical loyalty to the Crimson Tide led him back to Tuscaloosa in retirement,

where Tide football, writing, and classic movies and Broadway became his

primary passions. He was proud to say that at different times in his life he

worshipped with churches of many different Christian denominations,

and said that each one helped him draw closer to God; here in Tuscaloosa

alone, he was affiliated with St. Francis Catholic Parish, Grace Presbyterian,

Forest Lake United Methodist, and Woodland Forrest Baptist Churches as

well as the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa. Although he

never was blessed with a wife and children as he had hoped, he made lasting

impressions and good friends everywhere he went. He was challenged later

in life with a neurological condition that began to reduce his mobility and

self-sufficiency, but never let that get him down and pushed himself to the

limits of his ability. His lifelong attitude of ‘never meeting a stranger and

ability to persevere through life’s challenges will be a source of inspiration

for those who knew him for many years to come. In lieu of flowers, please

make donations to Grace Presbyterian Church Loaves and Fishing Food

Ministry or to the Tuscaloosa Animal Shelter.