Beloved mother, grandmother and friend Martha Sue Keegan, a 45 year resident of Rockwall, passed away peacefully on January 23 at Rock Ridge Memory Care, surrounded by family. A Memorial Service was held on January 26 at Rockwall United Methodist Church with eulogy by the Rev Joe Pool.
Martha Sue was born to Clifford and Sue White on November 26, 1930 in Shawnee, OK and her childhood was spent in nearby Chandler, OK where she graduated from high school in 1948. She went to Monticello Women’s College in Illinois, and then to University of Oklahoma where her childhood love and future husband Edwin A. Keegan (Ed) was also a student. She graduated from OU with a degree in business. Ed had the nickname of “Mophead” or “Moppy” for Martha Sue, but she still loved him! Martha Sue and Ed were married on January 30, 1953 at the Methodist Church in Chandler. After several moves during their marriage, they moved to Rockwall in 1975 and were members of the Rockwall United Methodist Church for 45 years. Both were active in the church and in the local Republican party, and in doting on their children and grandchildren. Martha Sue did not work outside the home when her children were young, but after the kids were in college she worked with Barbara Hensley realtors where in 1983 she was honored as Realtor of the Year. Ed preceded Martha Sue in death in July of 2015.
Martha Sue was known by family as Mama, Mom, and sometimes still as “Mommy”. Martha Sue is survived by four children and their spouses: Tom L Keegan, Karen K Keegan-Husband Guy VanSyckle II, Edwin A. Keegan, II – wife Jane, and Patrick K Keegan-wife Yvonne ; and by six grandchildren: Kathryn V VanSyckle, Guy W VanSyckle III, Fallon S Keegan, Sean E. Keegan, Caitlyn J Keegan, and Joshua K Keegan. A great-grandchild is on the way, whom Mama would have deeply loved as well. She is also survived by three siblings: Jane (White) Carlson, Carl White, and Jack White. Her fellow parishioners, the JE Wilson Sunday School class at church, and her real-estate ex-coworkers all were close, as well as her neighbors.
She taught her kids all who knew her the virtues of patience, understanding, and faith. Martha Sue, Ed and the four kids loved camping; their favorite place was the Elk Wallow campground near Basalt Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Rockwall United Methodist Church. 1200 E. Yellow Jacket Ln, Rockwall TX, 75086-4865.
