Charles P. McKean

GARDNER - Charles P. McKean, age 96, of Gardner died Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at home surrounded by his loving family.   He was born February 17, 1918 in Groton, MA, the son of the late Clay E. and the late Mary E. (Folkins) McKean.   He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1937, where he was a member of the football team and swim team.  He was a life guard at the Greenwood Memorial Pool during his high school years. Mr. McKean served in the Massachusetts National Guard before and after World War II.  He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Marines.  He entered the service on February 9, 1939 and went to boot camp at Parris Island, SC.  He served aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis for two years.  He served in the 2nd Marine Division FMF as Platoon Sergeant for 32 months in the South Pacific, starting 29 days after the Pearl Harbor attack. He fought in campaigns at Guadacanal, Saipan and Tinian.  He received the American Defense Medal, American Pacific Theater with three stars, Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Mr. McKean served the City of Gardner with thirty-one years credit out of the years 1934-1991 in which he was the Mayor, Councilor for Ward 4, Councilor-At-Large, Council President, Commissioner of Public Safety and a Trustee of Levi Heywood Memorial Library. He was a member of the Marine Corps League, life member and past Chaplain of Oliva Case Post #905 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gardner American Legion Post #129, Yankee Division Veterans Association, Polish American Veterans, life member of Marine Corps Association and the 2nd Marine Division Association New England Chapter, life member of Marine Corps Tanker Association, honorary life member - Knights of Columbus - 3rd Degree, past 1st vice president of American Association of Retired Persons, lifetime member of Golden Age Club, Gardner Rotary Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles #747, former president of Gardner Little League, former chairman of American Red Cross - Gardner Chapter, former member of American Society of Notaries, member of Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts. Mr. McKean was employed for 34 years at Collier Keyworth Company as the Quality Control Manager. He leaves his wife, Theresa (D'Entremont) (Poirier) McKean; a daughter Karen A. Kelley and her husband, former Mayor Dan Kelley of Gardner. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Cecilia E. (Girouard) McKean, by his sister, Martha Towers and by a brother, Harry McKean. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 3, 2015 in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols St., Gardner.  Burial with full military honors will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Gardner. Calling hours will be Friday, January 2, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440. To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfuneralhome.com. Mack Funeral Home 91 Vernon St., Gardner is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });