Person Record

Metadata

Name

McKeen, John Warren (1914-1988)

Born

March 7, 1914

Birthplace

Lovell, ME

Places of Residence

Lovell, ME

Father

Herbert McKeen

Mother

Ella (Jackson) McKeen

Education

Lovell schools

Notes

Married March 28, 1936 at the home of the bride's parents in Bridgton by Rev Stanley C. Sherman
Buried in Cemetery No. 4
Taken from the Winter 2018 Newsletter written by Liz Kerr:
John W. McKeen was born in Lovell in 1914, attended Lovell schools, and died in Lovell at the age of 74. He and his wife of forty-one years never had children and during his lifetime he never accomplished anything considered noteworthy. He worked at many of the stores in town and was a caretaker for many properties. Yet, despite his uneventful life, thirty years after his death John continues to have a lasting impact on many lives. This is because his most important achievement in life was the legacy that he left behind.
John was the third child of Ella and Herbert McKeen of Lovell. He grew up revering his grandfather, Warren B. McKeen who, thanks to hard work, owned two farms in Lovell, one on Old Stage Road and the other on Slab City. John married Hazel McDaniel of Bridgton in 1936. They lived in a house next door to what is now the Center Lovell Market, which was built for them the year they were married.
Living relatives point out that John took the example of his hardworking grandfather to heart as he grew up. His niece and nephew, Nancy Pitman and Dean Stearns, describe him as fastidious, meticulous, reliable, and industrious. He was best remembered as always having at least two jobs.
After serving in France during World War II, John worked at L.L. Stearns general store and then Skinner’s Store, both in Center Lovell. Later, he worked at C.N. Brown’s hardware store. While holding these jobs, he also served as caretaker for several properties on Kezar Lake and had a trash pick-up business. From 1967 to 1980, he was manager at the Boulder Brook Club.
John certainly was hard working. While holding these jobs, he also took care of his wife, who had received a head injury from a skating accident that left her somewhat disabled. He sold bait, maintained the household, and kept finely manicured gardens. He was known to drop everything to assist other people. He built a cabin on Heald Pond in the late 1950s. During his leisure, he was an avid fisherman, snowmobiler, and golfer.
John was also dedicated to the Town of Lovell. He was involved in the fire department, the Masonic Lodge, the Fryeburg-Lovell VFW, the Lovell Snowmobile Club, and the area Fish and Game Association. He also held several town positions over the years. He served on the Board of Appeals beginning in 1965, the Budget Committee beginning in 1976, and was a Fence Viewer (administrator of fence laws) from 1970 onwards. He held all of these positions until his death on March 29, 1988.
Despite not having children of his own or perhaps because of it, John eagerly supported the youth of Lovell. He loved ice fishing and began to hold annual ice fishing derbies for children at his property on Heald Pond. He worked with Lovell Youthways, a precursor to the Lovell Recreation Department, to promote the event. There was always free food and prizes for the kids. After his death, Lovell residents continued the practice, and named it John McKeen Day in celebration of his life. According to Bonnie Fox, who was interviewed in 2001, the event became a community effort. To this day, neighbors haul gas grills down to the shore of Heald Pond in front of the camp John used to own. There is plentiful food, all of it donated, and every child gets a ribbon just for participating. Prizes are awarded and snowmobile rides and sledding is also available. The event will be held this winter on February 24th.
Another component of John’s legacy was the creation of the Warren B. and John W. McKeen Educational Foundation. Upon his death, his will created a fund that, thanks to judicious management, has grown in significance. Scholarships are available to students who have been residents of Lovell for at least a year. Applications are available at the Lovell Town Office, the offices of Hastings Malia and the Guidance Office of Fryeburg Academy. Applications are due by January 31 in order to be reviewed.
Fond memories of John continue today thanks to his foresight in endowing the educational scholarship and the community’s continuation of his fishing derby. His compassion and generosity toward the Town of Lovell and its children has not been forgotten. As his nephew Dean Stearns put it, "He absolutely loved Lovell, Maine and Lovell liked him very much, too."

Occupation

Clerk for L. L. Stearns
Manager Boulder Brook Club
Caretaker for several properties on Kezar Lake

Spouse

Hazel E. (McDaniel) McKeen

Children

None

Deceased

Mar 29, 1988

Deceased Where

Center Lovell, ME

Titles & honors

Active in town affairs in Lovell and held several positions.
WWII

Related Records

At John McKeen's Camp - 2015.04.0014
Group of men at John McKeen's camp. They are identified as: Harold Watson; unsure; Earl Bennett; Franklin Stearns; and Dewey Watson.

Record Type: Photo
Births 1892 -1939 - 1974.02.0686
Index and photocopy of Lovell's births from 1892 through 1939. Located in a notebook titled "Births Deaths 1892-1939 Vital Statistics 1910-1945." A photocopy of the book can be found in the archival box "Lovell Vital Records Box 3."

Record Type: Archive
Edna Heim & Church Choir - 2009.59.0014
Edna Heim with the church choir. Edna was the church organist and choir director at the Christian Church for many years. Left to right in background: unknown, unknown, Dorothy Heim, Louise Brooks (red cheeks), unknown, Peg Evans, John McKeen. Left to right in foreground: Mary Lorton, Edna Heim. Taken from Photo CD #5.

Record Type: Photo
Ella (Jackson) McKeen, Pearl (McKeen) McAllister, John McKeen and Ina (McKeen) Stearns - 2003.02.0011
Left to right: Ella McKeen, Pearl (McKeen) McAllister, John McKeen (Ella's son), Ina (McKeen) Stearns. Taken from a copy in the possession of B. Dean Stearns.

Record Type: Photo
Enfield Wilson & John McKeen - 2002.16.0002
Enfield Wilson and John McKeen at John's cottage at Heald Pond.

Record Type: Photo
Ervin Lord, John McKeen, & Clint Andrews - 2009.01.0045
From Left to right: Ervin Lord, Jr., John McKeen and Clint Andrews. They are overlooking Heald Pond. Taken from Photo CD #3

Record Type: Photo
Fred & Sonny Heim With John McKeen - 2002.16.0029
Left to right: Fred Heim, John McKeen (in uniform) and Sonny Heim. Fred and Sonny were the sons of Gustav Heim. Taken from Photo CD #1.

Record Type: Photo
Group of Ice Fisherman - 2002.16.0009
Front, left to right: Win Adams, John McKeen, Richard Libby. Rear, left to right: Don Andrews, Archie Lorton, Leewood Norton, Bill Walker, Malcolm Wilson. Taken on March 18, 1962 while ice fishing at Farrington Pond.

Record Type: Photo
Harriet Gilman, Elmore Gilman & John McKeen - 2002.16.0001
Left to right: Harriet Gilman, Elmore Gilman and John McKeen.

Record Type: Photo
Heim Sons & John McKeen - 2001.20.0041
John McKeen (in uniform during World War II) with the sons of Gustav Heim, Jr. Left to right: Frederick Heim, John McKeen, and Gustave Heim.

Record Type: Photo
Hunter Chase & John McKeen at the C.N. Brown Store - 2012.04.0177
Inside the C.N. Brown store. Pictured are Hunter Chase and John McKeen. Taken from Photo CD #7.

Record Type: Photo
Ice Fishermen With Their Fish - 2002.16.0021
Left to right: Jim Brackett, Enfield Wilson, John McKeen and Clint Andrews with strings of fish. Taken on March 18, 1962 while ice fishing at Farrington Pond.

Record Type: Photo
Ina (McKeen) Stearns, John McKeen and Pearl (McKeen) McAllister - 2003.02.0017
Left to right: Ina (McKeen) Stearns, John McKeen, and Pearl (McKeen) McAllister. John is holding the puppy. Taken from a copy in the possession of B. Dean Stearns.

Record Type: Photo
Ina (McKeen) Stearns, John McKeen and Pearl (McKeen) McAllister - 2003.02.0021
Left to right: Ina (McKeen) Stearns, John McKeen and Pearl (McKeen) McAllister. Taken from a copy in the possession of B. Dean Stearns.

Record Type: Photo
Ina (McKeen) Stearns, Pearl (McKeen) McAllister, Ella (Jackson) McKeen and John McKeen - 2003.02.0012
Left to right: Ina (McKeen) Stearns, Pearl (McKeen) McAllister, Ella (Jackson) McKeen, John McKeen. Taken from a copy in the possession of B. Dean Stearns.

Record Type: Photo
John and Hazel (McDaniels) McKeen. - 2003.02.0044
John and Hazel McKeen. John born March 7, 1914. Married March 28, 1936. Original in the possession of B. Dean Stearns. The photo was used in the publication "The Lovell News" with the following caption: "John McKeen (1914-1988) and Hazel McDaniel (1908-1977) were married on March 28, 1936 at the bride’s home in Bridgton. John, who was born in Lovell, fought during World War II, managed the Boulder Brook Club, and acted as caretaker for severa...

Record Type: Photo
John & Hazel McKeen - 2001.20.0018
Two photos of John McKeen in uniform with his wife Hazel. Also found on Photo CD #8.

Record Type: Photo
John & Hazel McKeen Dancing - 1974.02.0580
Couple dancing on the far right are John & Hazel McKeen.

Record Type: Photo
John & Hazel McKeen's Christmas Card - 2012.04.0121
A Christmas Card from John and Hazel McKeen with a photo of their house. Taken from Photo CD #7.

Record Type: Photo
John McKeen - 2001.20.0021
John McKeen in uniform, standing outside a house. Also found on Photo CD #8.

Record Type: Photo