Obituary of Mildred R. Keough

Mildred R. Keough, age 94, of 34 Academy Street, Saranac Lake, NY died Friday October 24, 2008 at Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid where she had been a resident since May. Born in Troy, New York on January 21, 1914, she was the daughter of William and Mary (Doherty) Sweeney. Mrs. Keough attended St. Mary's School and Catholic Central High School in Troy, New York. She had spent her summers in Saranac Lake during the late 1920's and moved to Ray Brook in 1931, with her parents who operated a restaurant in Ray Brook (which is currently the Tail-o-the-Pup). Millie met her future husband Eugene P. Keough, at the family restaurant and they were married January 5, 1933 at St. Mary's Church, in Troy, New York. He predeceased her on May 10, 1981. Mrs. Keough had worked as the receptionist and bookkeeper for Keough and Son Funeral Home in Saranac Lake from 1944 until her retirement in 1991. She had also worked as the Office Manager for the Chamber of Commerce, motel manager of Keough's Motel, proprietor of a dress shop and later owned and operated a motel gift shop. Mrs. Keough is a life member and past Grand Regent of Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Bernard. She helped organized and was the first president of the St. Bernard's School Mother's Club. Past member of the Board of Governors of the Saranac Lake Golf Association and past Board Member and President of the Saranac Lake Ladies Golf Association. She was the Director and co-founder of L.I.F.T., a widowed person's support group organization. She was a member of and one of the original five organizers of the Saranac Lake Women's Civic Chamber where she served as their first President. She also had later served as their Vice President and several terms on the Board of Directors. She also was a member of St. Bernard's Altar Rosary Society and served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Bernard's Church. Mrs. Keough was an avid writer and poet and was published in NCCC Anthologies, World Treasury of Poetry, Festival of Voices, Sunrise-sunset, Visions, Diamonds and Rust and in Catholic Golden Age Magazine. She helped author and edit "A Past to Remember; A Future to Mold", which was the Women's Civic Chamber History of Saranac Lake. She also wrote a "Random Thoughts" column for the Senior Outlook for many years. Mrs. Keough was crowned Queen of the Winter Carnival in 1986. Her son Ronald was also crowned as king that same year and they are one of the only mother and son combinations crowned as king and queen of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival in the same year. She is survived by her son Ronald Keough and his wife Margaret "Peggy" of Saranac Lake, NY, two daughters Patricia Keough Wilson and her husband Kenneth of Port Orange Florida, her daughter Jeanne Callaghan and her husband Steve of Port Leyden, NY, 11 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grand Children and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake from 3:00 to 6:00 PM on Tuesday October 28. A Catholic Daughters Service will take place at 4:30 PM on Tuesday afternoon. A bible vigil service will take place at 5:45 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 PM on Wednesday October 29, 2008 at St. Bernard's Church in Saranac Lake with Rev. Thomas Kornmeyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Saranac Lake. Friends wishing to remember Mildred R. Keough may make memorial contributions to the Women's Civic Chamber Scholarship Fund, Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Bernard Scholarship Fund, High Peaks Hospice, or the Saranac Lake Adult Center in care of the funeral home. Family and friends wishing may also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.