Roy McKeen, 48, Dies In Omaha

Well-Known Former Blair Man Dies After Falling Off Truck

Roy R. McKeen, 48, well-known former resident of Blair, died at Nicholas Senn hospital in Omaha at 9 a.m. Sunday, a day after being taken there seriously ill. He had lived in Omaha since 1928.

Mr. McKeen, an employee of the Omaha park department since June, 1935, died of complications from injuries received last Wednesday when he fell from the running board of a parked truck. Death was ascribed to streptococcus infection.

A sad note of Mr. McKeen’s sudden passing was that he was unable to attend graduation exercises Thursday night for the Technical high school class of 1937, of which his only daughter, Frances, 18, was a member. He had looked forward to the event for a long time, but became ill the night before commencement exercises. He never saw his daughter’s diploma.

Native of Blair

Roy Richard McKeen was born in Blair May 26, 1889, son of Mr. and Mrs. William R. McKeen, and had resided here most of his life. He attended the Blair city school and the Boyles Business college in Omaha.

He was married in Omaha in October, 1914, to Miss Amelia Jensen of Omaha, and they moved to Blair, where he was employed many years by the Sas Brothers store. The McKeens left Blair nine years ago, and Mr. McKeen was employed for several years in Omaha by the sears-Roebuck company.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, and his stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Durant of Blair. His father preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Omaha, the Rev. Walter A. Voss officiating. A large throng of friends attended the services, and floral tributes were in profusion. Further services were held at Campbell’s mortuary in Blair at 4 p.m., the Rev. Mr. Voss officiating. Interment was in Blair cemetery. Omaha friends of Mr. McKeen served as pallbearers.

#2-10 June, 1937 - The Enterprise

ROY McKEEN DIES IN OMAHA SUNDAY

Roy McKeen, son of Mrs. Ed Durant of this city, died last Sunday morning in the Nicholas Sean hospital, following an accident which resulted in blood poisoning. He was ill four days.

Deceased was born in Blair on May 26, 1889, and was thus past forty eight years of age. He grew to manhood and received his education in the Blair schools.

Twenty two years ago last October he was married to Miss Amelia Jensen of Omaha, and they made Blair their home until nine years ago when they moved to Omaha where he secured employment in the park department, which position he held until his death.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKeen, one of them a daughter, with the wife, survive him. The daughter, a young lady of eighteen, graduated from the Omaha Tech High school on the Thursday previous to the death of her father, he being too ill to attend the graduating ceremonies.

Roy was well known in Blair, having served as clerk in the men’s department of the W.J. Sas store for years, where he came in contact with a wide circle of friends. He was always held in high respect, and his friends here join in their sympathy for the surviving wife and daughter and mother.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, first in Omaha and later in Blair, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~