Michael F. Keough

Waltham - It's been said that perseverance is doing the work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.

Mike Keough never shied away from working . . . whether it was in the Marine Corps, as a fireman or taking care of the Elks building after he got through running the meetings.

Born in Waltham on May 21, 1935 his Irish immigrant parents, Michael F. and Bridget E. (Crowe) Keough, raised eleven children in the city and Mike was a lifelong resident. During the Korean War he served with the United States Marine Corps and following his discharge took a job with Waltham's Public Works Department.

In 1969 he followed his brother John whose nickname was Fuzzy onto the Waltham Fire Department and soon after two other Keough's joined the same profession, Tom in Waltham and Joe in Wellesley. Mike spent his career as a driver at the Central Station on Lexington Street. His first assignment was on Engine 6 and he retired from Ladder 1 in 1991. In between he spent most of his time assigned to Engine 2.

Mike was a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 953 in Waltham where he served as past Exalted Ruler and also was a past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. It was at the Elks where Mike made many lifelong friendships and took satisfaction in helping the organization fulfill its charitable mission. For years he not only helped run the Lodge but was also its chief custodian.

Mike also believed in Julia Child's admonition that "a party without cake is just a meeting". If Mike were born a few generations later he could've had a show on the Cooking Channel . . . he was that good. Whether it was at the firehouse, at the Elks, at home in Waltham or at the family's cottage in Meredith, New Hampshire smiles followed when Mike took charge of the dinner menu.

He belonged to the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 866.

Michael Francis Keough, Jr. died Friday, July 28, 2017 at his Waltham home. He was 82.

He leaves his wife, Beverly A. (Pitts) Keough; his children, Deirdre A. Keough, Tara A. McCauley and her husband, Joe, Michael F. Keough, III and his wife, Judy, and Shannon A. Kelleher and her husband, Chris, all of Waltham; his grandchildren, Kaitlin and Joseph McCauley, CJ, Connor, and Liam Kelleher; his brothers, James J. Keough and his wife, Nadine, of Brooksville Florida, David E. Keough and his wife, Gerri, of Falmouth, Thomas M. Keough and his wife, Suzanne, of Waltham and Joseph E. Keough of Natick, and many nieces and nephews.

He was also a brother of the late William Keough, Kathleen Kewer, John "Fuzzy" Keough, Helen Keough, Agnes Paul and Mary Canty.

Family and friends will honor and remember Mike's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, July 31st from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.