LeRoy McKeage

LeRoy McKeage, Jr., 93, died of Pulmonary Fibrosis on October 3, 2023 at his home in Lake Jackson. LeRoy was born on September 29, 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to LeRoy (Roy) McKeage, Sr. and Sylvia Maude (King) McKeage. LeRoy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Donna, and three children: Vicki Leigh (Jimmy) Clem of Widefield, Colorado; David LeRoy (Mary-Beth) McKeage of Lake Jackson, Texas and Linda Sue Johnson of Lake Jackson, Texas. LeRoy and Donna have eight grandchildren: Melissa Calsadillo (Chris), Calhan, CO; Emily (Sean) Buckley, Denver, CO; Aaron (Jordane) Clem, Colorado Springs, CO; Sharla (Tim) Jerrow, Widefield, CO; Trenton (Samantha) Clem, MCCS Base, Oahu, Hawaii; Kaleigh Clem, Colorado Springs, CO; Danielle (Chris) Milling, Rosenberg, TX; and Ashlyn (Corban) Dipnarinesingh, Lake Jackson, TX. LeRoy was great grandfather to ten children.

LeRoy was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan with summers spent in his beloved East Jordan, Michigan. In 1946 his family moved to Independence, Missouri, where he graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1949. He earned his AA Degree from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa, graduating in 1951. He graduated from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1954. During the summers of his college years he hitchhiked from his home in Independence to Oregon where he worked in the canning factories and wheat fields to pay for his education.

Following graduation, he began work at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, and was soon drafted into the United States Army where he served two years. He returned to work at Dow Chemical after his military service. He was laid off from Dow in the recession of 1958 and worked as a Chemical Engineer at Abbott Labs in Waukegan, Illinois, for two years. He returned to work at the Michigan Division of Dow Chemical in 1960. In 1965 he became Superintendent of the Ammonia Plant. In 1968 he transferred to the Louisiana Division as a Chemical Refinery Technologist. In 1970 the family moved to Lake Jackson and LeRoy began work at the Texas Division of Dow as a Process Specialist. In 1977 he transferred to the Oyster Creek Division and worked in Process Engineering and in 1982 joined the Division’s Process Engineering Department. He retired from Dow Chemical Company in 1992.

LeRoy married Donna Louise Killingbeck on August 9, 1958 at The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) in Midland, Michigan. Their honeymoon was a trip to Waukegan, Illinois, for a job interview at Abbott Labs where both were employed for two years. The newlyweds drove across the “new” Mackinaw Bridge on the return trip. LeRoy and Donna had a home in Old Oak Trails Estates in Sanford, MI and spent summers there from 2005 to 2021.

LeRoy loved music and was an accomplished pianist as a teenager. He sang in church choirs and with the Auditorium Messiah Choir in Independence, Missouri, performing Handel’s Messiah for several years. He was a member of Community of Christ, Angleton and served as Financial Officer for many years. He was devoted to Christ and his last wish was to be with Jesus. He loved the scriptures and found joy in dwelling in God’s word.

Special thanks to IPH Hospice for their compassionate care of LeRoy in his final days, Scott Westfield EMT for being there “any time, day or night” and Chapelwood and Rev. Paul Kethly for help in the process of closure. Cremation will take place arranged by Restwood Funeral Home.

A service in LeRoy’s memory will be held Friday, October 13, at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 300 Willow Drive, Lake Jackson with Rev. Paul Kethly presiding. Visitation will be at 10:00 am until the time of service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice. The service will be live-streamed on Chapelwood’s Facebook page and YouTube.

Family and friends will be able to see the live stream:

YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxDaZmQkNKpo1esCBz5pasw

or

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/ChapelwoodUMC

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.restwoodfuneralhome.com for the McKeage family.