Gerrard Whitney Keane, affectionately known as “Whit” and “Grampy”, passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, Kathy, on May 1, 2024. Whit had suffered a long battle with dementia, and is finally at peace. He was born on September 6, 1956 to Robert and Geraldine Keane in Reading, PA. Whit graduated from Ashbrook High School, and lived out his great love and passion for music by earning his Associates degree in Broadcasting from Gaston College. He was a DJ for the local college radio station, and was known to dedicate songs to his future wife Kathy on the station quite frequently. Ever the romantic, his song dedications paid off when he and Kathy married in 1980. Together they built a beautiful family with four daughters, and supported each other through the highs and lows in life, and loved each other unconditionally through it all.

Whit is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Laurie Barry of NJ. He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughters Jeannette Anselmo (husband Tim), Katie Barnes (husband Rusty), Whitney Dowd (husband Parker), and Rachel Keane (fiance Brian), grandchildren Paisley, Luke, Adam, Oliver, Scarlett, Hadley and Marin, sister Torry Keane of VA, nieces Kim and Keely, nephew Sean, and many sister and brother-in-laws whom he adored.

If you ever had the honor of meeting Whit, you would never forget him. His smile was contagious, his laugh was heartwarming, and his ability to find the good in any situation, no matter how bad it seemed, made him adored by all. He was funny, boisterous, faithful, kind, and incredibly intelligent. He was often referred to as a big kid, even by himself, because he never took life too seriously, and was always laughing and goofing around. He was a self taught handyman, and could fix any car or home repair before google and the internet were ever created. He was so encouraging, and so proud of his four daughters. He would stop strangers to tell them about his girls, and boasted about them as his most prized possessions. He took great pleasure in being called “Dad”, and said becoming a father was the best thing that ever happened to him. He coached his daughter Jeannette’s volleyball team in school, supported his daughter Katie’s passion for art, and showed up to help set up and support his daughters Whitney and Rachel in all their school concerts and theater performances. His seven grandchildren brought out his most soft and lovable side, and he was absolutely elated with each of their births. Whit was compassionate, and so very loving. He spoke words of encouragement and love that would fill your soul, and make you feel beautiful and loved.

One of Whit’s greatest passions was music. He had an extensive record collection, and you would rarely find him without his headphones on, the speakers blasting in the living room to his favorite jams, or playing his harmonica. He became an avid gardener later in life, and delighted with each new bloom he had planted. He was quite the artist, and master of the grill. His steaks and burgers were hands down the best around. He loved to talk politics, was a huge Chicago Bears fan, and was his absolute happiest at the beach, basking in the sun or body surfing on a wave. He was a devout Catholic, and found great peace from his church families at St. Michael’s and Queen of the Apostles. He made the statement that he knew heaven would be his final resting place (which was reassuring to the family in this time of grief).

The family deeply appreciates your support during this difficult time. A memorial will be held at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Belmont at 10:00 am on Friday, May 3rd, followed by his burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Belmont. 

Whit never wanted his family and friends to be sad after his passing, and instead always asked us to throw a celebration of his life, and celebrate we will! A celebration of Whit’s beautiful life will be held at his daughter Whitney’s residence at 1:00pm following his burial at 105 Eagle Rd, Belmont, NC. Please join us to celebrate Whit’s life, and the profound impact he made on every life he touched. If you would like to make a donation in Whit’s honor, please send them to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church.