Cover photo for Donald Dayton "Don" McKean's Obituary
Donald Dayton "Don" McKean Profile Photo
1941 Don 2022

Donald Dayton "Don" McKean

August 17, 1941 — November 2, 2022

Richland

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Donald Dayton McKean was born on August 17, 1941 in Alexandria, Virginia and moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan with his parents, Eugene Clayton and Helen Francis (Warren) McKean in 1948. The family eventually made their home on Gull Lake when Don was in 5th grade. He graduated as class President from Richland Community High School in 1959 and went on to Michigan State University Veterinary College where he graduated in 1965.

He served as a Captain in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 and received recognition for outstanding service as Chief of the Veterinarian Division in Fort Belvoir Virginia at the DeWitt Army hospital. In 1970, he opened the Richland Veterinary Hospital on North 32nd Street. He was known to many of the people of Richland for the years of steady and kind service he gave to them and their pets until he retired in 2002.

Don loved the beautiful landscapes of Michigan. Walking his dogs on the prairie land and fields of southwestern Michigan and along the forests, streams and lakes of northern Michigan and Drummond Island. English Setters were his passion and Gale, Jennie, Jamie, Emma, Red, Grace and Lou were some of his favorites. He was a conservationist, knowledgeable about the plants and animals of Michigan and he enjoyed planting trees and shrubs to provide shelter and food to the wildlife. Don was a natural storyteller. With that sparkle in his eye, he would have friends and family roaring with laughter at his retelling of events and happenings of all the things he'd seen and experienced.

He is survived by his loving wife Kathy; they enjoyed 34 years of happiness together, his four children including Kelley Dehn (Tony), Roberta McKean-Cowdin, Wesley McKean, and Benjamin McKean (Maureen), his sister Nancy Reger (Dean), brother Richard Mckean, sister Deborah Ninni (Tom), brothers-in-law Jim Hoyt (Ellen), Stan Hoyt (Betsy), grandchildren Marissa Kiella (Matthew), Matthew McKean Ticknor (Charlotte), Mason Lamb, Bennet Dayton Cowdin, Ryan Cowdin, Alek Donald McKean, niece Rachel Hoyt, nephews Ryan Hoyt, Chris Reger(Lisa), Nate Reger (Julia), and great granddaughter Gemma Kiella.

A great man has left us and we are forever grateful for his life.

Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2022 at Gull Lake United Methodist Church with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please consider memorials to The Lewy Body Dementia Association @ lbda.org or the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, Michigan. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, November 7, 2022

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Gull Lake United Methodist Church

8640 Gull Rd, Richland, MI 49083

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Funeral Service

Monday, November 7, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Gull Lake United Methodist Church

8640 Gull Rd, Richland, MI 49083

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