Colgan
Keel Christian Colgan, age 54, of Baltimore, Maryland passed from this world on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at the Franklin Medical Center in Baltimore.
Keel was born on May 2, 1962 in Birmingham, Alabama, and in August of that same year he was introduced to his parents, George and Helen Colgan, as they adopted him and welcomed their new son into their home. Keel grew up with 3 siblings who loved their brother with all of the love that they had, and a lifelong bond was set into place between brothers and sister.
Keel would begin what could only be described as a well-traveled education in Lake Charles, LA where he was enrolled in Kindergarten at Lake Charles Elementary, then moving on to Tampa, FL and attending Brookwood Forest Elementary for 1st grade. From there he would spend the next five school years, 2nd grade through 6th grade, at Brookwood Forest Elementary in Mountain Brook, AL. Halfway through his 7th grade year he moved from Mountain Brook Junior High to Peachtree in Atlanta, GA where he would stay until he completed 9th grade. In 1977 he would move once again to finish his Primary and Secondary education at Seaholm in Birmingham, MI where he would graduate high school in 1980. During this time an immense and lifelong love of sports was established.
Keel was a standout athlete from the beginning in little league baseball and junior pro football at a young age in Mountain Brook, AL and that talent followed him to high school where he played Football, and was a star Baseball player at Seaholm in Birmingham, MI. Keel also began his lifelong love of music during his formative years as he learned and excelled at the Saxophone in the Junior High Band in Mountain Brook, AL. After graduation, Keel continued his education at The College of Brockport, a state university in New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Economics degree. As he left college and continued his life, his journey would include him fathering 3 beautiful daughters whom he loved and cherished, and he would also become a loving uncle to his sibling’s children.
As any of us become adults, we all continue to bloom and old ideas and past hobbies evolve but some things from our adolescence stay with us for life. For Keel that was his love of sports and music. Keel was a huge sports fan and loved all things Philadelphia and Baltimore especially the Eagles and Ravens. He enjoyed discussing sports history with his brothers and debating which historical teams were better than others. These discussions created a bond with his family and friends that he cherished throughout his life.
However, when it came to his number one sports passion, it was Auburn University that stole his heart. He bled Auburn burnt orange, and navy blue through and through, and War Eagle was his battle cry. To honor that passion, an Auburn flag will fly at his gravesite as he is laid to rest in Smithville, TN.
Keel also thoroughly enjoyed listening to music and especially Southern Rock and bands like The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, and many others. Music remained a constant in his life right up until the end as a guitarist sat by his bedside and played staples of the bands mentioned above as a peace covered his body and he passed from this world just as the song says, “free as a bird now”.
Keel is survived by his Mother - Helen Colgan Matthews of North Carolina, 3 Daughters - Kaylee Colgan, Kristin Colgan and Jeren Colgan all of New Jersey, 1 Sister - Kerri Colgan-Wait of Minnesota, 3 Brothers -, Crede A. Colgan of Smithville, Tennessee, Trace C. Colgan of Florida, and Scott Turner of Smithville, Tennessee along with several nieces and nephews who also survive. He is preceded in death by his loving Father - George A. Colgan.
A graveside memorial service was held at DeKalb Memorial Gardens in Smithville on Sunday, June 26 at 3 p.m., where Keel’s cremains were laid to rest beside his father.
Bro. Larry Green will officiated.
The entire Colgan family have long been supporters of the proper care of animals and discarded pets. Their support of animal charities continues today and in lieu of flowers, it would be Keel’s request to please make a donation to the DeKalb County Animal Coalition in his memory. You can make that donation through Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, and they can be contacted by calling (615) 597-5275 or by mail at:
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home
100 Eat Street
Smithville, TN 37166
(Please include a check or money order made to DCAC and have a note detailing how you would like the donation to read.)
“If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? I must be traveling on now, there’s too many places I’ve got to see” - Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
We will never forget you Keel, enjoy your flight.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, was in charge of the arrangements.
SMITHVILLE REVIEW
Smithville, TN
July 6, 2016
