Keegan departed on a new journey November 30, 2018, blessed his last 3 weeks by a loving send-off from his 24 hr. Care Angels Chrissy and long time friend Ginny Pegalow RN. Keegan is survived by his fiancee Chrissy Arasmith and their two canine “children” Oscar and Laverne ; his parents Gloria and Pat O’Malley; Kelley & Gary Baker, Kevin & Becky O’Malley, uncles John Blough and Michael Weiss; aunts Terry Weiss and Tammy Grace; and cousins Shelly, Melanie, Summer, Autumn, Joe, Brian, Julia, and Elaina. Keegan is predeceased by his grandparents Wayne & Lorene (Bourquin) Blough and Jack & Gloria (Garner) Weiss; his uncle Jack Weiss Jr; his father Wm S. Weiss; and his cousin Chelsea Grace.
Keegan was born on November 3, 1981 in Dayton, Ohio, where his father completed his Doctor of Osteopathy residency. At the age of one, his parents returned to their Kansas City area roots. It is there that Keegan planted his own roots and began to develop the close relationships with family and friends that would come to affect so many lives. He initially attended Shawnee Mission East High School then transferred to Plaza Academy, where he graduated in 2000. Keegan continued his academic pursuits at UMKC, earning dual degrees in Chemistry (BA) and Biology (BS).
Keegan learned about loss early in his life, first with the passing of his 7 year old cousin Chelsea when he was just 12 years old himself; then the death of his own father two years later; and his Uncle Jack two year after that. It may be those experiences that instilled in him his desire to be a loving and caring soul to nearly everyone he met. He valued his bonds with family and friends far above any material wealth – and in that respect, Keegan was a very rich man.
If you were to ask those close to Keegan what one feature would best describe him, they would all tell you – it was his hug. Far from a quick wrap around pat-pat on the back, Keegan would not only completely encircle you with his two arms, he would embrace you with his entire being – and just hold you – until time stopped – floating together as one, in eternal peace . . .
His Aunt Tammy said it this way -- “his hugs were so sincere that everyone who got one believed they deserved love”. Then there is his friend Kenna who said “I’ll miss you making me put down all of my belongings before we hugged, because hugs are not to be half assed”. Or as the love of his life Chrissy put it simply, “His hugs were the best. He felt safe. Like nothing too bad could ever happen because you had this amazing protector to keep an eye on you”. She also had this to say about Keegan: “Thank you for teaching me that life is easier and a hell of a lot more fun when you let people in”.
Thank you to the friends and family who came to visit Keegan while having his chemo treatments and especially those who came to the house during his last three weeks to “be with” him and to support Chrissy and Ginny thru his final days. Especially Will Peterson...
Of all the relationships that Keegan treasured, there is no doubt that those with dad Pat O’Malley, his mother Gloria, and his fiancee Chrissy are above all the ones that he cherished the most. There is one more – the bond with his father -- that was ripped from Keegan’s grasp way too soon due to another sudden cancer attack. Keegan’s efforts to come to grips with that loss would continue up until the moment when – in an unimaginable twist of fate – he followed in his father’s footsteps. Like father like son . . .
Bill Weiss’s ashes were incorporated with the planting of a tree by Keegan’s grandfather, in a cemetery near Kansas City. One of Keegan’s last wishes was for his ashes to join his dad’s at the base of that tree. A ceremony with close friends and family will be held sometime in the new year to grant that wish.
It was Keegan's wish, for friends and family who want to gather together now to share the memories, joy, and love, a celebration of Keegan’s life will be held at Lew’s Grill and Bar later this month. The event details can be found on Facebook.
In closing, there is one more aspect of Keegan’s departure that defies explanation: Keegan’s birth and death dates form a palindrome. It’s almost as if this palindrome was no coincidence at all – but rather the intentional expression of one life-long, all-encircling, forever Keegan hug:
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