Rotary Eulogy

I’m speaking to you, today, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Central Citrus, to honor the fellowship and friendship that we were SO blessed to share with Warren.

Rotary is 1,200,000 civic minded men and women who meet WEEKLY at 32,000 Rotary Clubs in 200 countries and territories for camaraderie and friendship, and to help make their community, their country, and their WORLD a better place in which to live. Rotary‘s motto is “Service Above Self”. Warren Kean EPITOMIZED this motto. He was a VERY active member of our club, since 2004, but he was a Rotarian for 43 YEARS! He took GREAT PRIDE in being a Rotarian. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a Sustaining Member, which are both very honorable and generous awards.

One day in July, of 1932, a Rotarian named Herbert J. Taylor, sat at his desk and PRAYED that God would give him a SIMPLE guide to help us to think, speak and do THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT. He picked up a white card and wrote down what we Rotarians call THE FOUR WAY TEST of the things we THINK, SAY and DO:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it Build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Rotarians, around the world, begin or end each weekly meeting by reciting this to remind us ALL to live by these words in our daily, business and personal relations. I believe Warren Kean lived by this 4-Way Test, EVERY DAY of his life and, because of that, we were ALL fortunate to have crossed his path during his lifetime.

Personally, I’m going to miss his Wednesday morning kiss and hand shake, and, I think I speak for all of us when I say how much we’re going to miss his GREAT sense of humor, his incredible lucky streaks winning the weekly 50/50 drawings, which he was ALWAYS happy to share if you wanted to pool your tickets with his. We’ll miss is early arrival, each week, driving up with his convertible top down in his ALL WEATHER, short golf pants, just ALWAYS enjoying the FRESH AIR in his face with that BIG, Warren Kean smile.

One of our FONDEST memories will be Warren‘s weekly HAPPY DOLLAR for his “ALL TIME MOST FAVORITE“ sports team. Of course, this was NEVER the SAME team, it was ALWAYS THE WINNING TEAM and, it could have been an NFL FOOTBALL team, or a BASEBALL team, or a FOREIGN SOCCER team or an ALL GIRL‘S COLLEGE BASKETBALL team. He was, OBVIOUSLY, a VERY BIG fan of most ANY sport – so, to honor our friend and to keep his MEMORY a local LEGACY, The Rotary Club of Central Citrus has UNANIMOUSLY voted to add to our local scholarships that we award to DESERVING High School graduates, each year, a NEW, ANNUAL,

        $500 WARREN KEAN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP!

I’d like to end with a short prayer that we shared, as a club, the week Warren passed away.

In honor and memory of our good friend and fellow Rotarian, Warren Kean, We thank you, Lord, for the GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP, that BINDS us together as one, that common bond, which spans differing backgrounds and professional expertise, made SURE by the LOSS of a fellow member. Grant, we pray, that the gift of precious memories will SUPPORT us all.

Memorial Service

Thank you, all, who attended Warren’s Memorial Service, this morning.

Mike & Angela, Karen & Peter, Ken & Vera, Hazel & Roger, Robbie & Debbie, John Provost, Tony, Judy, Eric Hoyer, my husband, Gary. Inactive and past members of our club that were there were Linda & Mickey Cridland, Eric & Elisabeth Adolfsen and Dick & Kathy Hildebrand. Thank you ALL for being there to give our respects to Gladys and her beautiful family. Thank you, also, for lending me moral support while reading the eulogy. If I missed anyone there, PLEASE forgive me…and let me know so I can correct myself.

For those of you who were unable to attend the memorial service of our good friend, and fellow Rotarian, I just want you all to know that there was standing room ONLY at Hooper’s Funeral Home! Warren Kean touched SO MANY lives, during his 77 years and I am so proud to have known such a special man! His wife, Gladys, is a VERY special lady, as well and we all need to remember that she will remain a special part of our Rotary family!

To quote the words of the Hospice minister who spoke to us, today, there are only three things that are most important to us all Our faith, our family and our friends. We should ALL be SO LUCKY to have a memorial service, celebrating our lives, someday, with STANDING ROOM ONLY and an obituary FULL of life’s accomplishments and successes, as Warren Kean. Count your blessings, my friends, enjoy life to it’s fullest, live by the Four Way Test and keep your priorities in check. Let our friend, Warren, be a perfect example for us all!

See you soon, maybe Wednesday?

Hugs to you all, Nancy.

Yours in Rotary & Friendship,

Nancy Ayres

Warren’s Passing Notice

Dear Rotarians,

It is with great sadness I report to you this morning that a great Rotarian passed away. Warren Kean has been a very active member of the Central Citrus Rotary since 2004, but has been a member of rotary for over 40 years. Warren is a Paul Harris Fellow and Sustaining Member. He has always taken great pride in being a Rotarian.

Warren, let your favorite team be a winner today!

Yours in Rotary Service

Michael