Donald Chalmers McKean Jr. arrived at 12:15 am on March 31, 1946, the first of 3 children born to Donald Sr. and Helen June Carlson McKean at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Brother David Wallace McKean and sister Sandra Carol McKean followed thereafter.
"Donnie" was an exuberant child who spent his days frolicking around the neighborhoods of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. He told many stories about running from fence to fence for miles without ever touching the ground. He built tree forts and had many wild adventures with a group of boys he named the Count Baron Von Trapp Killer Apes.
He graduated from Reseda High School in 1963 and served in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed on the flight deck of the USS Oriskany during the Vietnam War. His many experiences in the service laid the foundation for a life of hard work and determination. After his discharge in 1969, he enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College earning an A.A., then onto Cal State University Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Don served as a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff from 1971to 1978. He married Sheila Ann Timms on August 16, 1975 and they had daughter Jennifer Caroline on October 2, 1977. He's often said these were the two best days of his life.
Not wanting to raise their child in Southern California, they decided to venture to "God's country" and moved to Oregon in 1979. Don pursued his love of fishing and hunting and taught his daughter how to appreciate the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He started a security alarm system business in Salem but unfortunately the economy slowly failed during this period. He had to make the heart wrenching decision to move his family back to Southern California in 1985. This time to the Long Beach/Signal Hill area.
He worked for many area banks during this period, doing both security alarm work and then later as a project manager for Bank Of America. This led him back to a version of God's country again as he and Sheila were able to move to Northern California to work at the Concord BofA headquarters in 1998. He soon accepted a severance package and was able once again to pursue new opportunities. Being a man of many talents and able to learn and teach himself absolutely anything, he used his electrical contracting skills and soon became a pool and spa repairman for Wetmore Pools in Vallejo, Ca, their new hometown. He spent his last years loving this new occupation as he got the opportunity to drive around Solano and Napa counties, in his big white utility van with his little brown dog Moki hanging out the front window. He made many friends through his employers and customers.
Sheila's daughters from a previous marriage, Sonia and Tamara, made him the grandfather of five, Brittany, Quinn, Cheyne, Shilo, and Phoenix. Daughter Jeni and son-in-law Darwin Felix gave him two additional grandsons, Zander and Lassen. Granddaughter Brittany and husband George Kongaika recently gave him two great-granddaughters, Tamara and Irie. Don was a loving "papa" to all of his grandchildren and spent much time teaching them many different aspects of life and nature. He loved to tell stories and share many adventures along the way. One of his favorite things to do was showing the little ones how to roast smoky link sausages on a wire hanger over an open fire. Most of the time, he would prefer the fire to be of the camp variety, but when need be, the kitchen fireplace would suffice.
His interests were wide and varied and his amount of knowledge was extraordinary. He was the ultimate handyman, being able to fix or create almost anything. He continued to love to fish and camp and spent as much free time as possible with family and friends doing so. Some of his favorite places were in the High Sierra near Bishop and the June Lake Loop. Also he loved to spend time on the "coast" near Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County, where he and Sheila kept an Airstream trailer they dubbed "The Silver Bird". Over his life he was a member of a variety of clubs such as the West L.A. Four Owners as a road captain where he and Sheila covered many miles of the West's back roads on a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle; Commander of Royal Ranger Outpost for two churches in Long Beach where he took many 12-16 year old boys on camping trips; and then in Vallejo, as the treasurer of the North Bay Sturgeon Anglers, as well as a member of Napa Elks Lodge and the Veteran of Foreign Wars. He also managed to qualify for a single engine rating pilot's license, fulfilling a life-long dream.
On December 28th, 2006, he took a fall from a 14' ladder while at work and suffered from cracked ribs and a lacerated liver. He was taken to the hospital and expected to recover but unfortunately on December 31st, he developed respiratory problems and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, presumably caused by a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) likely resulting from the accident, and passed away at 8:40pm.
This was all too soon for his family and friends who expected to have many more years of love, laughter, lessons and adventures. We presume God needed a handyman to fix things up around the place. Don was unfailingly kind and always willing to lend a generous hand whenever needed. He always loved to laugh and make others laugh with his quirky sense of humor. His ability to maintain this sense of humor even in the face of adversity was one of his best qualities.
Don touched many lives during his time on earth and was the epitome of a true, hard-working, one of a kind man. The void he is leaving in the hearts of those who knew him is unimaginable and he will always be greatly missed and truly unforgettable.
Taken from www.inmemoryofdon.com 01/30/2007
"Donnie" was an exuberant child who spent his days frolicking around the neighborhoods of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. He told many stories about running from fence to fence for miles without ever touching the ground. He built tree forts and had many wild adventures with a group of boys he named the Count Baron Von Trapp Killer Apes.
He graduated from Reseda High School in 1963 and served in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed on the flight deck of the USS Oriskany during the Vietnam War. His many experiences in the service laid the foundation for a life of hard work and determination. After his discharge in 1969, he enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College earning an A.A., then onto Cal State University Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Don served as a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff from 1971to 1978. He married Sheila Ann Timms on August 16, 1975 and they had daughter Jennifer Caroline on October 2, 1977. He's often said these were the two best days of his life.
Not wanting to raise their child in Southern California, they decided to venture to "God's country" and moved to Oregon in 1979. Don pursued his love of fishing and hunting and taught his daughter how to appreciate the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He started a security alarm system business in Salem but unfortunately the economy slowly failed during this period. He had to make the heart wrenching decision to move his family back to Southern California in 1985. This time to the Long Beach/Signal Hill area.
He worked for many area banks during this period, doing both security alarm work and then later as a project manager for Bank Of America. This led him back to a version of God's country again as he and Sheila were able to move to Northern California to work at the Concord BofA headquarters in 1998. He soon accepted a severance package and was able once again to pursue new opportunities. Being a man of many talents and able to learn and teach himself absolutely anything, he used his electrical contracting skills and soon became a pool and spa repairman for Wetmore Pools in Vallejo, Ca, their new hometown. He spent his last years loving this new occupation as he got the opportunity to drive around Solano and Napa counties, in his big white utility van with his little brown dog Moki hanging out the front window. He made many friends through his employers and customers.
Sheila's daughters from a previous marriage, Sonia and Tamara, made him the grandfather of five, Brittany, Quinn, Cheyne, Shilo, and Phoenix. Daughter Jeni and son-in-law Darwin Felix gave him two additional grandsons, Zander and Lassen. Granddaughter Brittany and husband George Kongaika recently gave him two great-granddaughters, Tamara and Irie. Don was a loving "papa" to all of his grandchildren and spent much time teaching them many different aspects of life and nature. He loved to tell stories and share many adventures along the way. One of his favorite things to do was showing the little ones how to roast smoky link sausages on a wire hanger over an open fire. Most of the time, he would prefer the fire to be of the camp variety, but when need be, the kitchen fireplace would suffice.
His interests were wide and varied and his amount of knowledge was extraordinary. He was the ultimate handyman, being able to fix or create almost anything. He continued to love to fish and camp and spent as much free time as possible with family and friends doing so. Some of his favorite places were in the High Sierra near Bishop and the June Lake Loop. Also he loved to spend time on the "coast" near Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County, where he and Sheila kept an Airstream trailer they dubbed "The Silver Bird". Over his life he was a member of a variety of clubs such as the West L.A. Four Owners as a road captain where he and Sheila covered many miles of the West's back roads on a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle; Commander of Royal Ranger Outpost for two churches in Long Beach where he took many 12-16 year old boys on camping trips; and then in Vallejo, as the treasurer of the North Bay Sturgeon Anglers, as well as a member of Napa Elks Lodge and the Veteran of Foreign Wars. He also managed to qualify for a single engine rating pilot's license, fulfilling a life-long dream.
On December 28th, 2006, he took a fall from a 14' ladder while at work and suffered from cracked ribs and a lacerated liver. He was taken to the hospital and expected to recover but unfortunately on December 31st, he developed respiratory problems and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, presumably caused by a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) likely resulting from the accident, and passed away at 8:40pm.
This was all too soon for his family and friends who expected to have many more years of love, laughter, lessons and adventures. We presume God needed a handyman to fix things up around the place. Don was unfailingly kind and always willing to lend a generous hand whenever needed. He always loved to laugh and make others laugh with his quirky sense of humor. His ability to maintain this sense of humor even in the face of adversity was one of his best qualities.
Don touched many lives during his time on earth and was the epitome of a true, hard-working, one of a kind man. The void he is leaving in the hearts of those who knew him is unimaginable and he will always be greatly missed and truly unforgettable.
Taken from www.inmemoryofdon.com 01/30/2007
Donald Chalmers McKean Jr. arrived at 12:15 am on March 31, 1946, the first of 3 children born to Donald Sr. and Helen June Carlson McKean at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Brother David Wallace McKean and sister Sandra Carol McKean followed thereafter.
"Donnie" was an exuberant child who spent his days frolicking around the neighborhoods of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. He told many stories about running from fence to fence for miles without ever touching the ground. He built tree forts and had many wild adventures with a group of boys he named the Count Baron Von Trapp Killer Apes.
He graduated from Reseda High School in 1963 and served in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed on the flight deck of the USS Oriskany during the Vietnam War. His many experiences in the service laid the foundation for a life of hard work and determination. After his discharge in 1969, he enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College earning an A.A., then onto Cal State University Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Don served as a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff from 1971to 1978. He married Sheila Ann Timms on August 16, 1975 and they had daughter Jennifer Caroline on October 2, 1977. He's often said these were the two best days of his life.
Not wanting to raise their child in Southern California, they decided to venture to "God's country" and moved to Oregon in 1979. Don pursued his love of fishing and hunting and taught his daughter how to appreciate the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He started a security alarm system business in Salem but unfortunately the economy slowly failed during this period. He had to make the heart wrenching decision to move his family back to Southern California in 1985. This time to the Long Beach/Signal Hill area.
He worked for many area banks during this period, doing both security alarm work and then later as a project manager for Bank Of America. This led him back to a version of God's country again as he and Sheila were able to move to Northern California to work at the Concord BofA headquarters in 1998. He soon accepted a severance package and was able once again to pursue new opportunities. Being a man of many talents and able to learn and teach himself absolutely anything, he used his electrical contracting skills and soon became a pool and spa repairman for Wetmore Pools in Vallejo, Ca, their new hometown. He spent his last years loving this new occupation as he got the opportunity to drive around Solano and Napa counties, in his big white utility van with his little brown dog Moki hanging out the front window. He made many friends through his employers and customers.
Sheila's daughters from a previous marriage, Sonia and Tamara, made him the grandfather of five, Brittany, Quinn, Cheyne, Shilo, and Phoenix. Daughter Jeni and son-in-law Darwin Felix gave him two additional grandsons, Zander and Lassen. Granddaughter Brittany and husband George Kongaika recently gave him two great-granddaughters, Tamara and Irie. Don was a loving "papa" to all of his grandchildren and spent much time teaching them many different aspects of life and nature. He loved to tell stories and share many adventures along the way. One of his favorite things to do was showing the little ones how to roast smoky link sausages on a wire hanger over an open fire. Most of the time, he would prefer the fire to be of the camp variety, but when need be, the kitchen fireplace would suffice.
His interests were wide and varied and his amount of knowledge was extraordinary. He was the ultimate handyman, being able to fix or create almost anything. He continued to love to fish and camp and spent as much free time as possible with family and friends doing so. Some of his favorite places were in the High Sierra near Bishop and the June Lake Loop. Also he loved to spend time on the "coast" near Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County, where he and Sheila kept an Airstream trailer they dubbed "The Silver Bird". Over his life he was a member of a variety of clubs such as the West L.A. Four Owners as a road captain where he and Sheila covered many miles of the West's back roads on a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle; Commander of Royal Ranger Outpost for two churches in Long Beach where he took many 12-16 year old boys on camping trips; and then in Vallejo, as the treasurer of the North Bay Sturgeon Anglers, as well as a member of Napa Elks Lodge and the Veteran of Foreign Wars. He also managed to qualify for a single engine rating pilot's license, fulfilling a life-long dream.
On December 28th, 2006, he took a fall from a 14' ladder while at work and suffered from cracked ribs and a lacerated liver. He was taken to the hospital and expected to recover but unfortunately on December 31st, he developed respiratory problems and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, presumably caused by a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) likely resulting from the accident, and passed away at 8:40pm.
This was all too soon for his family and friends who expected to have many more years of love, laughter, lessons and adventures. We presume God needed a handyman to fix things up around the place. Don was unfailingly kind and always willing to lend a generous hand whenever needed. He always loved to laugh and make others laugh with his quirky sense of humor. His ability to maintain this sense of humor even in the face of adversity was one of his best qualities.
Don touched many lives during his time on earth and was the epitome of a true, hard-working, one of a kind man. The void he is leaving in the hearts of those who knew him is unimaginable and he will always be greatly missed and truly unforgettable.
Taken from www.inmemoryofdon.com 01/30/2007
"Donnie" was an exuberant child who spent his days frolicking around the neighborhoods of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. He told many stories about running from fence to fence for miles without ever touching the ground. He built tree forts and had many wild adventures with a group of boys he named the Count Baron Von Trapp Killer Apes.
He graduated from Reseda High School in 1963 and served in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed on the flight deck of the USS Oriskany during the Vietnam War. His many experiences in the service laid the foundation for a life of hard work and determination. After his discharge in 1969, he enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College earning an A.A., then onto Cal State University Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Don served as a Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff from 1971to 1978. He married Sheila Ann Timms on August 16, 1975 and they had daughter Jennifer Caroline on October 2, 1977. He's often said these were the two best days of his life.
Not wanting to raise their child in Southern California, they decided to venture to "God's country" and moved to Oregon in 1979. Don pursued his love of fishing and hunting and taught his daughter how to appreciate the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He started a security alarm system business in Salem but unfortunately the economy slowly failed during this period. He had to make the heart wrenching decision to move his family back to Southern California in 1985. This time to the Long Beach/Signal Hill area.
He worked for many area banks during this period, doing both security alarm work and then later as a project manager for Bank Of America. This led him back to a version of God's country again as he and Sheila were able to move to Northern California to work at the Concord BofA headquarters in 1998. He soon accepted a severance package and was able once again to pursue new opportunities. Being a man of many talents and able to learn and teach himself absolutely anything, he used his electrical contracting skills and soon became a pool and spa repairman for Wetmore Pools in Vallejo, Ca, their new hometown. He spent his last years loving this new occupation as he got the opportunity to drive around Solano and Napa counties, in his big white utility van with his little brown dog Moki hanging out the front window. He made many friends through his employers and customers.
Sheila's daughters from a previous marriage, Sonia and Tamara, made him the grandfather of five, Brittany, Quinn, Cheyne, Shilo, and Phoenix. Daughter Jeni and son-in-law Darwin Felix gave him two additional grandsons, Zander and Lassen. Granddaughter Brittany and husband George Kongaika recently gave him two great-granddaughters, Tamara and Irie. Don was a loving "papa" to all of his grandchildren and spent much time teaching them many different aspects of life and nature. He loved to tell stories and share many adventures along the way. One of his favorite things to do was showing the little ones how to roast smoky link sausages on a wire hanger over an open fire. Most of the time, he would prefer the fire to be of the camp variety, but when need be, the kitchen fireplace would suffice.
His interests were wide and varied and his amount of knowledge was extraordinary. He was the ultimate handyman, being able to fix or create almost anything. He continued to love to fish and camp and spent as much free time as possible with family and friends doing so. Some of his favorite places were in the High Sierra near Bishop and the June Lake Loop. Also he loved to spend time on the "coast" near Ft. Bragg in Mendocino County, where he and Sheila kept an Airstream trailer they dubbed "The Silver Bird". Over his life he was a member of a variety of clubs such as the West L.A. Four Owners as a road captain where he and Sheila covered many miles of the West's back roads on a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle; Commander of Royal Ranger Outpost for two churches in Long Beach where he took many 12-16 year old boys on camping trips; and then in Vallejo, as the treasurer of the North Bay Sturgeon Anglers, as well as a member of Napa Elks Lodge and the Veteran of Foreign Wars. He also managed to qualify for a single engine rating pilot's license, fulfilling a life-long dream.
On December 28th, 2006, he took a fall from a 14' ladder while at work and suffered from cracked ribs and a lacerated liver. He was taken to the hospital and expected to recover but unfortunately on December 31st, he developed respiratory problems and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, presumably caused by a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) likely resulting from the accident, and passed away at 8:40pm.
This was all too soon for his family and friends who expected to have many more years of love, laughter, lessons and adventures. We presume God needed a handyman to fix things up around the place. Don was unfailingly kind and always willing to lend a generous hand whenever needed. He always loved to laugh and make others laugh with his quirky sense of humor. His ability to maintain this sense of humor even in the face of adversity was one of his best qualities.
Don touched many lives during his time on earth and was the epitome of a true, hard-working, one of a kind man. The void he is leaving in the hearts of those who knew him is unimaginable and he will always be greatly missed and truly unforgettable.
Taken from www.inmemoryofdon.com 01/30/2007
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