Mike McKean

HOMER, LA: Funeral services were held for Mr. Mike McKean, 71, at the St. Margaret Catholic Church in Homer, LA, on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. with Father Pike Thomas officiating. Interment followed at Arlington Cemetery. The family received friends in the Chapel of Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Homer, LA, on Friday from 5-7 p.m. Mr. McKean was born in Mobile, AL, on April 19, 1944, to Edmund Walter and Louise Ione Bevis McKean, Sr. He entered into rest on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, in Shreveport, LA, following a lengthy illness. Mr. McKean grew up in Mobile, AL, as one of nine children of Louise and Walter McKean. He went to Murphy High School where he starred as an all-county and all state center on the football team. He graduated from Castle Height Military Academy in Lebanon, TN, before he enrolled at Auburn University on a football scholarship. After college Mr. McKean played semi-pro football for the Mobile Tarpons. In 1967 he joined the US Marine Corps, serving as a scout-sniper during the Vietnam conflict from 1968 to 1969. While in the Marines he received the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star after the battle for Hue City during the Tet offensive in 1968. Mr. McKean was also awarded The National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Rifle Expert Badge and the Combat Action Medal. Thru these wartime experiences he grew to love the outdoors where he considered the woods a second home. Mr. McKean was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and boating, especially sailing on his beloved sailboat \"SHARKY\". Because of his love for the game of football, Mr. McKean was a referee for high school football for many years in and around Claiborne parish. In his business career he owned several businesses in Homer including automobile dealerships, automobile service business, and real estate. Mr. McKean was President of the Lions Club and the Homer Jaycees. His civic contributions were numerous. Mr. McKean was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Matthew Michael McKean; two brothers, Walter McKean and Jerry McKean; and a sister, Kathy McKean. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Ann Young McKean; two daughters, Shelley McKean of Plano, TX and Shannon Cruickshank and husband Brian of Bossier City, LA; three grandchildren, Isabel Grace Cruickshank and Danielle "Dani" Cruickshank; special honorary member of the family, Julie Featherston Bray; five brothers, David McKean and wife Peggy of Mobile, AL, Bobby McKean and wife Myrna of Orange Beach, AL, Donnie McKean and wife Cindy of Panama City, FL, Tommy McKean and wife Ruth of Hurricane, WV and Ricky McKean and wife Dottie of Mobile, AL; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Pallbearers were be Frank Haas, David McKean, Bobby McKean, Donnie McKean, Tommy McKean and Ricky McKean. Honorary pallbearers were Terry Clason, Jim Hatch, Bo Blackwood, Bubba Hays and John Bray. For friends considering memorials honoring Mr. McKean, in lieu of flowers, his family suggests the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, PO Box 52074, Phoenix, AZ 85072, (866) 347-2345, https://www.cff.org or Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org .

Rose-Neath Funeral Home Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110 www.rose-neath.com