Craig Keown
Craig Keown peacefully left this world on the evening of June 5, 2024, after returning from a short hospital stay. He continually immersed himself in his many interests and lead a tremendously full life during his 81 years.
Craig was born in Philadelphia November 28, 1942, to parents Harry and Doris Keown. Soon after, his father went to Europe as a radio operator during WWII. After the war his family moved to Albany, New York, where his younger brother Gary was born, to Natick, Massachusetts, where the brothers attended primary school, and then back to the Philly area where they went to high school in Levittown, PA. Craig always shared wonderful memories of his outstanding education at Neshaminy High School where he graduated with honors. He remained close to his classmates. He was an alumnus of Penn State and Ryder College.
In the early 1970s, he relocated to Rochester, Vermont, with his wife Barbara and young children, to pursue his passion for skiing and enjoy a life away from the city. The family made many trips to Stone Harbor, New Jersey, where they visited the shore and spent time with his parents, and his mother’s cousin, Florence Craig, lovingly called Aunt Florence. After a few years of teaching at U32 in Montpelier, he and his wife separated and he moved to the Mad River Valley, remaining close to Rochester where his children attended school. In those days he worked at Gallagher’s a lively cast of characters and made many friends. He was a ski instructor for 25 years at Mount Ellen, initially with the Sigi Grottendorfer Ski School, where he met more dear friends who remained close.
In November 1979, a week after his youngest daughter, Laura, lost her battle with leukemia, he and his brother Gary met two Aussie best friends, Leanne and Kerry, who were travelling through The Valley. Craig joined Kerry in 1981 in Australia to be married, and Gary went to be his best man. Soon after Gary married Leanne, and they decided to settle there. Craig and Kerry returned to Waitsfield and began the next chapter of their life together. They worked hard and built their home. Eventually, Craig transitioned from ski instructing to working with his son Sean in their roofing and construction business. Craig and Kerry also enjoyed many years of traveling to Australia. Initially they conducted motorcycle tours in Queensland, where Craig was welcomed into Kerry’s circle of family and friends. He became fondly known as the “Yank.” They eventually bought a second home in beautiful Hervey Bay on the Queensland coast and enjoyed trips there almost every year. Craig loved his Aussie home, Kerry’s family, and his mates. He is already sadly missed by them all.
Craig is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kerry, and his children. Sean lives with Amy and their daughter Katie in Rochester, Vermont, is still roofing, and DJing karaoke events. Craig’s daughter Kim lives in Boston, is a working artist, film technician and professor at the Massachusetts College of Art, spending weekends with her partner, Ed, on a farm on the south coast of Massachusetts. His eldest daughter, Gail, is a professor of child development at Chico State University, California.
His grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Katie Jane Keown; Kelsey Keown-Tessier and her wife Vanessa and their son Phineas; Kyle Keown and his daughters Kyra, Khloe, and Kendall;
Hazel James and her partner Jordan; Annie and her husband Parker and their children Molly and Miles.
Craig captivated his family and friends alike with his ability to employ timing and descriptive phrases to craft and weave the most entertaining stories from his exciting and varied experiences.
Graveside service will be held at the Waitsfield Common Cemetery July 21 at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at The Skinner Barn, 609 Common Road, Waitsfield, VT. Please join us at either or both events.
In lieu of flowers any contributions can be given to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, 4177 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT 05673. https://www.mrvas.org/donate
