Dorothy Irene Keegan

Dorothy Irene Keegan, aged 92, passed away surrounded by family, on the fourth of August 2024 at home in Everett, Washington.

Born in Washington, D.C. on June 30th, 1932, to Lloyd Bruce Gosorn, Sr and Helen Virginia Gosorn, nee Meyers, Dorothy grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, spending part of her childhood in the same home where her grandfather was born on Beech Avenue. She credited fond memories of the beautiful gardens her grandmother Gosorn kept for her life-long passion for flowers and gardening.

Dorothy graduated from Mount Rainier High School in 1945. Her early work life included roles in helping others, through the D.C. welfare department, patriotic service with the National Security Agency, and later, administrative positions in private business. In retirement, she did volunteer work at Montrose General Hospital in Montrose, Colorado. She had many craft interests throughout her life, including jewelry design, crochet, crewel embroidery and paper quilling, of which she also taught beginners classes through a Montrose craft store. 

Her bent toward creative expression was passed on to the four children she had with her husband of 59 years, Stanley Rex Keegan, all of whom pursued interests in music, art, creative writing, and computer programing. “Dottie” and Stan raised their kids in rural southern Maryland on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay where they also developed a deep affinity for nature and the places where wild water meets the shore. She went above and beyond, making sure they all made it to their many after school activities—even though there were many miles between her workplace, their schools and home. Her family and friends will remember her for the thousands of holiday cookies she baked and shipped to them around the country, as well as her quick wit, and her compassionate and giving nature.

Dorothy is preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Stanley, and her brother Lloyd Bruce Goson, Jr. She is survived by her sister Hazel Louise Pollard of Venice, Florida; daughters Sharon Rae Keegan and wife Cheryl of Everett, Washington, Colleen Anne Fulmer and husband Keith of Centreville, Maryland; sons Kevin Lloyd Keegan and wife Joan of Hogansville Georgia, and Sean Dennis Keegan and wife Nora of Auburn, Washington; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

No public services are planned; the family asks that if you are so moved, to make charitable donations in Dorothy’s name to St Jude Children’s Hospital, your local American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or your local hospice organization. The Keegan family is forever grateful for the compassionate and affirming care Dorothy received from Eden Hospice of Snohomish County.