Memorial Trees
A
Anonymous
January 27, 2026
K
Kris Knight
January 25, 2026
Memorial trees planted for:
Richard Michael Keeley
<p>Richard Michael Keeley, December 8, 1969 - January 21, 2026, age 56, passed away in Calgary, Alberta, surrounded by family and loved ones.</p><p><br></p><p>Richard is survived by his mother, Jeanne MacLachlan; stepmother, Judy Keeley; and sister, Tracy Kabel. He was a beloved Uncle to Skyla (Scott), Drake, and Weston; and great uncle to Isaac and Audrey. Survived by many uncles and Aunts (some of his best friends) and cousins. He also leaves to mourn his fiancé, Jacqueline, and their beloved rescue dog, Lucy.</p><p><br></p><p>Predeceased too early by his father, Pat Keeley; cousin, Scott; and grandparents, Bill and Margaret Keeley (if you knew Richard, you knew he loved and missed his Noni). He will also be reuniting with so many family and friends who left before him, especially those in his Polish Navy crew.</p><p><br></p><p>Richard was born in Calgary and grew up in Altadore. He spent many hours and days at the South Calgary pool, River Park, later skiing, and cruising in his iconic 69’ Volkswagen bus. He shared a particularly close bond with his sister Tracy and together they enjoyed music, concerts, dancing, and making the most of every moment.</p><p><br></p><p>Richard started his career life by selling pagers in hot 80’s suits. He loved technology, telecommunication and sales. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and was the life of the party. If there was something fun happening, he wanted to be there.</p><p><br></p><p>Searching for a fresh start, he moved to Las Vegas in 1999, where he found pure joy, amazing community and family in Lake Mead and working on the strip. For many years, he worked for shows with Michelle Van Ree and Deogee (he was a devoted dog Father to his “Little Girl”), Terry Stokes, and Michael Johns. He met and worked with so many wonderful people in those years. He returned to Calgary in 2022 to assist with his mother’s declining health. She has dementia so please do not contact her. He was adopted, loved, and supported by the Parker family on his return, as well as Jim and Jo-Ann Larson.</p><p><br></p><p>He had a gift for laughter - big, contagious, effortless - and a personality that drew people in. To Richard, no one was a stranger; if he didn't know you, he wanted to. Whether sharing a joke, offering a hand, he had a way of making people feel seen and valued. He loved playing cards, gambling, a boisterous and loyal Broncos fan, darts, playing pool with his nephews, dancing, visiting, boating…. Richard loved a good time. To family, he felt like a friend, and to friends he felt like family.</p><p><br></p><p>He faced challenges that were often invisible to others, and despite his strength and the love surrounding him, he struggled for many years with drug and alcohol use. His passing is a painful reminder of how deeply this illness can affect even the most vibrant and caring souls. Our grief is matched only by our gratitude for the time we had with him.</p><p><br></p><p>A Celebration of His life will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 5-8 PM at The Canadian Brewhouse in Township Calgary, 80 Longview Common, SE , where family and friends are invited to gather, share stories, and honour the joy he brought into the world.</p><p><br></p><p>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to<a href="//www.heavencanwait.ca/"> Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue Foundation.</a> Under donation details, say Richard Keeley, or you can mail donations to Heaven Can Wait, Box 6131 Station Main, High River, AB, T1V-1P7 (Richard Keeley).</p><p><br></p><p>A heartfelt thank you goes out to the ICU teams at the South Health Campus Hospital, who worked tirelessly to keep Richard alive until Tracy and Drake arrived.</p><p><br></p><p>To view and share stories, memories, and photos of Richard with his family, please visit www.choicememorial.com.</p><p><br></p><p><br><br></p><p><br></p>December 8, 1969 - January 21, 202612/08/196901/21/2026
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