David Keen

“No need for words except to say, loved and remembered every day.”

Born in Wybunbury on 14th March 1939, David was the oldest of three children born to his parents Marjorie and David. He had a brother Christopher and a sister Janet.

He attended Wybunbury school initially but when the family moved to a new house, he went to Shavington school where he would finish his education at the age of 15.

He entered the world of work at Jacksons before moving onto Crewe Works. He had always had an adventurous spirit, always looking to get more out of life. As a young man he decided Crewe didn’t have enough to offer him and he decided to join the Merchant Navy. With the rank of 5th officer engineer for Cunard he served on the Queen Mary, which had been used as a troop carrier in the war.

He was a loving father to Mark, Angela and the late Ryan, and absolutely adored his grandchildren, Luke and Jodie.

Angie’s tribute to her dad,

“When we were growing up he was always away driving his lorry spending many a night away from home.

We all lived in a small, terraced house that had an outside toilet and no bathroom. This could be fun in the winter after we’d had our bath in the tin bath in front of the fire in the front room he would empty the water out in the back yard and create our very own ice rink to the toilet. When we moved to a brand new house with a bathroom inside this was awesome.

My dad spent a long time living on his own in Nantwich and when the time came he couldn’t wait to ‘give me away’ when I got married.

Once the grandchildren arrived he would be around every weekend to watch the football and have some dinner with us. He always enjoyed what he ate, saying the same thing after every meal, how amazing it was! I think he was being kind as I can’t abide cooking and am really not that good, he made it sound as though there should be Michelin stars on the door.

He would eat and then fall asleep after, unless it was Liverpool, then there was plenty to say, especially if they played Chelsea as that’s the colour of our house.

He could be seen as a gentle giant; someone not to be crossed, his presence filled a room as well as did his stature, he stood a good 6ft 2inches and had hands the size of shovels.

I think he would be the first to say he wasn’t the easiest person to live with and that reflected in him living on his own, this was his choice and there was no way or no one who would change him.

He wasn’t perfect, but who is?  But he was our dad, your bother, your friend and he will be greatly missed.”

As a young man David was a keen cyclist, and his youth was spent riding and training. He became a national champion and set many records.

In his later years, when cycling was no longer an option. he took up golf and loved nothing more than meeting up for a round with his friends and finishing up in the clubhouse to compare score cards and generally to set the world to rights.

A man who lived as he wanted to, David could be stubborn, as we have heard he preferred to live on his own. He was adamant that it was his home, and he would live as he wanted and no one could change that.

But time takes its toll on us all and eventually David had to accept that he required more personalised care. As his health began to fail he moved into Mayfield House. The family will always be grateful for the care and compassion shown to him there and especially at his end of life.

David Sadly passed away on 2nd February 2021 aged 81 years.

His funeral took place on Tuesday 16th February at Crewe Crematorium.

Donations have been requested in memory of David for Macmillan.