Michael Keefe
Age - 65
December 9, 2023
Michael Edward Keefe Funeral Time: Tuesday, December 12th at 10:30AM Michael Edward Keefe, 65, a lifelong resident of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, following an acute medical crisis. He was known by many names-- Mike, Pop Pop, Uncle Monkey, Uncle Boo Boo, and countless others-- that were bestowed upon him by the friends and family who loved him dearly and who cannot imagine a world without him in it.
Mike attended several of Lexington's private Catholic schools-- he was an altar boy at St. Peter's Cathedral--and Fayette County public high schools. He worked for nearly four decades in a variety of roles at what was previously known as Rand McNally, Quebecor, and QuadGraphics in Versailles, Kentucky, until his retirement in 2020. His faith was important to him, and he attended many local churches, including Main Street Baptist, Little Texas Community Church, Victory Christian Church, and Palomar Baptist, over the years. Those who attended with him certainly remember his exquisite high tenor singing voice.
He wasn't just a gifted singer; Mike was also a storyteller. He loved to connect with people by sharing a larger-than-life story, whether that was about his having survived being struck by lightning on three separate occasions, nearly getting arrested by banging on the trunk of his car and saying, "Quiet down in there!" in front of a police officer who really couldn't take a joke, accidentally setting his sister-in-law's hair on fire by throwing a cigarette out of a car window, or cutting a family vacation short because "Granny" had promised to fry him some chicken if he brought everyone home early. Few people could tell a memorable story the way Mike could.
Even more than telling his own stories, though, he loved to create moments that would become cherished memories for others-- especially for the children in his life. Who else but Mike would dress up in full ninja gear with his nephew to run around the backyard, throwing shuriken at squirrels? Or would carry his niece on his shoulders through the entirety of Disney World. . . just weeks after having knee surgery? He taught his son how to drive a stick shift before he was out of kindergarten, riding in his red Dodge pick-up truck and listening to Bob Seger and Linda Ronstadt. In just the past few weeks, he taught his older grandson how to track down a Yeti during a game of hide-and-seek and his younger grandson how to do a proper fist-bump.
While he may have frequently changed schools, company affiliations, and churches during his lifetime, Mike was fiercely loyal to the family he cherished more than anything. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Anna M. "Mama" Keefe; son Michael Jonathan (Alison) Keefe; and grandsons Barrett Seamus and Harris Aidhan Keefe. He was blessed with an extended family that includes many in-laws, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and "chosen family. " Mike would also certainly want to mention two colleagues, "Grandaddy" and "Tiny," who he would expect to reach out to Mama.
Mike is preceded in death by twin sons Christopher Andrew and David Alexander; father Thomas Albert Keefe; mother Florence Keefe; and siblings Barbara Boyd, Judy Miller, Eileen Kay "Billie Joe" Cole, and Thomas "Tommy" Keefe. Mike was also particularly close to his Aunt Bess, who cooked breakfast every morning for Al Capone at her diner in Chicago, and his Uncle Kelly, to whom he often said he owed his life.
And Mike's life was an exceptional one. His family and friends will celebrate him at a visitation on Monday, December 11, from 5 - 8 PM, at the Kerr Brothers Funeral Home at 3421 Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. His funeral will take place on Tuesday, December 12, at 10:30 AM, also at Kerr Brothers, with a procession to a graveside service at Lexington Cemetery to follow. Rev. Roszalyn Akins will serve as the Officiant. Pall bearers will be nephew James Michael "Mickey" McDaniel, nephew Heriberto "Eddie" Jimenez, great-nephew Kegan Patrick McDaniel, great-nephew Steven Arenas, chosen family member Desmond Howard, and close friend Ronald L. Bottom. Honorary pall bearers are James "JJ" Brady, Manoah Carrel, Dean Combs, Kenneth Dotson, Emilio Jimenez, Daniel Loyd, Shawn Shofner, and Moahnishan, Subershan, and Thirushan Wignakumar.
Before starting at Rand McNally, Mike worked as a delivery driver for a local florist. Even still, his family knows that he would prefer not to have an excess of flowers at his own service. In lieu of floral arrangements, please consider donations that honor Mike's generous spirit and his belief in the importance of taking care of others. The family believes that either RAINN or the Keefe Memorial Educational Fund, managed via Bluegrass Community Foundation, would be best aligned with Mike's values and wishes for keeping his memory alive.Show more
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