Mary Ann McKeogh

Mary Ann McKeogh, September 14, 1945 – November 2, 2020

By Dave Caithamer, friend and colleague

I became friends with Mary Ann McKeogh while we both worked for the Office of Migratory Bird Management in the 1990s.  Mary Ann was the assistant to the Population and Habitat Assessment Section Chief during these years.  Her office was about in the middle of the Henshaw Building.

Mary Ann had a long career with the U.S. Government and retired from the USFWS.

Soon after I met Mary Ann, her father, Mickey, passed.  The McKeogh family had lots of visitors to the funeral home that evening.  It was the first time I had witnessed an Honor Guard by the Knights of Columbus; Mary Ann was proud of her Catholic faith.

Mary Ann and her mother, Pearlie, enjoyed living together on Idlewild Drive in Bowie until Pearlie passed in 2006 (I believe).  Mary Ann also had an Uncle in New York; he passed sometime around 2000.  I don’t believe that she had any other family in the years I knew her.

The McKeogh home was a regular stop for my family on Halloween.  Mary Ann always welcomed us and treated us like her family.  When I had a few extra fish from one of my outings, Mary Ann and Pearlie appreciated the fillets.

When Mary Ann learned of my passion for the Green Bay Packers, she embraced my fanaticism.  She bought me a subscription to a Packer Fan newspaper and enrolled me in their club!  Then she and Pearlie introduced me to their friend, who resided in Green Bay.  The friend even secured 2 tickets at Lambeau for me and I watched, for the first time in my life, a Packer game from Lambeau!  Because Mary Ann and Pearlie had cable television, they’d invite me over to watch the Packer games when it was broadcast on a cable station.  They’d make me comfortable in their kitchen and at half-time they’d head off to bed and tell me to shut off the tv and lights once the game was over!  I always felt welcome in their home.

Mary Ann enjoyed the western U.S.  She regularly attended the Professional Bull Rider Association Championship, typically in a place like Cheyenne.  At the PBR events, Mary Ann would have front row seats, and she got to know many of the bull riders (and bulls).  Mary Ann was accomplished with a camera and captured amazing photographs of bull riders during their rides!  Mary Ann, Judy Bladen, Esther Mills, and other Patuxent friends vacationed together at ranches in the mountains.  Mary Ann also enjoyed attending a hot air balloon festival that was in New Mexico (I think).  During her leisure time, Mary Ann enjoyed reading western novels and solving jigsaw puzzles.  Mary Ann had a large collection of Disney figurines.  She was very accomplished at making teddy bears, which she shared with youngsters of all ages.

At home, Mary Ann and Pearlie enjoyed their little dog, Cricket.  For years, Mary Ann had a menagerie of pet reptiles in her office.  I recall corn snakes and some kind of Australian geckos.

Mary Ann was no fan of snow.  Even though she drove a 4-wheel-drive Jeep, she’d leave work as soon as snow started to fall.  I think she didn’t want Pearlie to worry about her.

One time, Jackie and I forgot a dinner date we had made with Mary Ann.  Oh, I felt awful.  Bless Mary Ann as she forgave me.

Once I moved to Wisconsin, it became harder for me to stay connected with Mary Ann.  I learned from a mutual friend that Mary Ann had moved into a care facility in the Bowie area during the last years of her life.  Mary Ann died on November 2, 2020 at the age of 75. 

Thank you, Mary Ann for making me and so many other people welcome in your life!  And thank you for the laughs and fond memories.  May you rest in peace.