Leland McKeowen, 83, past president of the UM Men of Florida Annual Conference and past president of UM Men of First UMC, Brooksville, Fla., and past president of the former Leesburg District UM Men, died May 28.
He was the first man in Florida Conference to be elected as a fellow in the John Wesley Society and he held numerous leadership positions in First UMC of Brooksville.
He graduated from Hernando High in 1946 where he was captain of the 1945 football team and was selected to the All-Conference team.
During the Korean War, he served in the 103rd Naval Construction Company in Guam and played football as a Seabee (1950-1952). He married his childhood neighbor and playmate, Barbara Breen in 1952, opened and managed the Men's Quality Shop of Brooksville (1953-1958), worked for JC Emerson (1958-1960) and worked as a State Farm agent from 1960-1981.
He is survived Barbara, his wife of 60 years, their son and daughter-in-law: Leland P. and Sue Jacobsen McKeown of Wilmore, Ky., and their four children and two daughters-in-law: his daughter and son-in-law: Marilyn McKeown and Dan Clark of Brooksville, Fla., and their three children.