Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

James David Keeny, 64 of Riva, Maryland, passed away at home on September 2, 2023, from complications of ALS.

Born at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Arizona, to the late James S. Keeny, an officer in the Air Force, and Mona M. Keeny, a homemaker, David was the much-loved brother of three sisters.   As a member of an Air Force family, David lived in Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Japan, Hawaii, Delaware, and Maryland.  He graduated from Goddard High School in Goddard, Kansas in 1977 and from the University of Arizona in 1981.  After graduation, he moved to Chico, California to work with EDS, but Maryland was always in his heart and he returned there in 1986 where he worked in the real estate industry.

It was in Maryland that David met and married Jessica, the love of his life, and had two sons, Sam and James, the other loves of his life. He was a devoted husband and father, a true family man.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman, skills passed down from his grandfather and father that he passed to his own two sons.  Sam learned to hunt, fish, and run.  James learned to hunt, fish, and play baseball.  David considered watching their sporting events a true blessing.  He was a joyful man.  

David was also a loving and loyal son, brother, uncle, and friend.   He credited his mother with teaching him how to love, be kind, and value simple things, qualities that all who knew him recognized in him.  He survived many wild adventures, stories about which he told with humor and joy.  He was known for his April Fool’s jokes, quail and bacon hors d’oeuvres, outdoor projects like planting chilis and blackberries, and love of all hot spices.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Jessica; his two sons, Sam and James; three sisters, Julia Keeny of Fairfax, Virginia, Kathi Spork of Carlsbad, California, Diana Posten (David) of Annapolis, Maryland; one nephew, Dillon Posten of Annapolis, Maryland; one niece, Courtney Masters (Christian) of Queen Anne, Maryland; mother-in-law Janet Bunch, and mother-in-law Cathy Horak. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Tom Horak, father-in-law, Tony Davert, and brother-in-law Rick Spork. 

Donations in David’s name can be made to support hunting programs for youth, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (information <a href="https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/Get_Involved.aspx">here</a>), or Hospice of the Chesapeake (online <a href="https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/">here</a>, or mail checks to: Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation, John and Cathy Belcher Campus, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122).

Relatives and friends are invited to David's life celebration at Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, on Saturday, October 21 from 4-5:30 PM, followed by a memorial service at 5:30 PM.


David Keeny

David Keeny

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