ARTHUR (ART) McKEAN
October 14 , 2020
Art was born in Madison, WI, the middle son of Herbert Baldwin McKean and Margaret Ella Heim McKean. He spent his early childhood in Silver Spring, MD until the family moved to Lewiston, ID in 1954. Art graduated as a Lewiston High School Bengal in 1961, earning multiple varsity letters in golf and swimming. He attended the University of Washington, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a four-year letterman on the varsity diving team, and an economics major, graduating in 1965. Art was admitted to the UW School of Law, receiving his JD in 1968. He was always a passionate Husky fan. He joined the Seattle law firm Aiken, St. Louis & Siljeg, where he enjoyed practicing for 38 years, serving as a senior and managing partner before retiring in 2006. He loved his work and the firm was like a second family to him. Last year, Art received a 50-year Award of Honor from the Washington State Bar Association in recognition of his 50 years of distinguished service to the legal profession.
Art wed the love of his life, and dance partner, Jeannie Marie Dahlstrom on June 10, 1967. They were happily married for 53 years. The couple made Bellevue, WA their home where they continue to have treasured, lifelong friends. Art and Jeannie have always felt they lived a charmed life. As avid golfers, they have been devoted members of Overlake Golf & Country Club for 48 years, where Art proudly served on the Board of Directors for 11 years and as president in 1991. Art’s love of golf extended to his membership in the Seniors’ North West Golf Association and its annual tournament at Victoria Golf Club. Since retirement, Art and Jeannie have enjoyed their winters in Borrego Springs, CA, where they have loved their new community of special friends and their golfing membership at de Anza Desert Country Club.
Above all, Art loved being “Dad” and “Papa”. He was either the coach or biggest fan in the crowd at his kids’ and grandkids’ events. He relished the time with his family and was cherished by all of them. Together, with son Steve and daughter Carmen and their families, the McKeans have shared countless happy occasions and vacations together. Many winters, springs and summers have been spent in McCall, ID golfing, with Art showing his family how to play the game, and skiing, where he taught both his children and five grandchildren to ski at his favorite hill, Brundage Mountain.
He leaves behind his wife Jeannie, their son Steven Dahlstrom McKean of Bellevue, and daughter Carmen Marie McKean Hormaechea of Boise, ID. Steve’s family includes his wife Laura Frances Sherman McKean and their children Abigail Frances and Benjamin Sherman. Carmen’s family includes her husband Michael Burke Hormaechea and their children Avery Marie, Joseph McKean, and Margaret Ella. Art is preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Scott Heim McKean and Aldyn John Baldwin McKean.
Art will always be remembered by his many friends and family as a true gentleman of the highest integrity. A celebration of his life will be held in Bellevue at a later date when it’s permissible for people to gather. Art will be laid to rest in the family plot at Oak Hill Cemetery in Troy, PA alongside five generations of McKeans. Art was deeply loved and is already profoundly missed.
We have lost a very kind and gentle soul. Art battled a brain tumor for the past year and a half. The family suggests that remembrance gifts be made in his name to
The Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research
c/o Seattle Children’s
M/S S-200
PO Box 5371
Seattle, WA 98145-5005
or
The Borrego Ministers’ Association
PO Box 2183
Borrego Springs, CA 92004