Francis Lee "Flee" Keegan, III

Francis Lee “Flee” Keegan, III, 59, of Biloxi, MS passed away on Friday, October18, 2024.

Lee was born October 6, 1965 in Biloxi, MS to Francis Lee, Jr. and Connie Newman Keegan. 

Lee attended Gorenflo Elementary, Nichols Jr. High and graduated from Biloxi High School “Class of 1983”. He attended and graduated from MS Gulf Coast Community College in 1986.

He started his career with Page, Mannino and Peresich in Biloxi, then he went to the President Casino and Treasure Bay Casino. In 1996 Lee began his career with “I.G.T.” International Game Technologies where he was a Senior Systems Engineer. He has been with them for 28 years. He traveled all over the world. To name a few places – Bueno Aries, Argentina, Paris France, Cardiff, Wales UK, South Africa, London, Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo and Calgary, not to mention all of the numerous beautiful locations throughout the United States.

Lee had a natural green thumb. He had a beautiful back yard with so many flowers and he loved sharing them almost every day on Facebook. He called it his North Woolmarket Botanical Gardens and Bird In sanitarium.

Lee had a love of Hot Wheels, Legos, Star Wars, Saints, Disney, his Disney ornament collection and his exotic salt water fish tank where he even grew his own coral. He also loved to fish, spent many camping and fishing trips over the years with his friends all over Mississippi and Louisiana.

I don’t think Lee has ever met a stranger. Everyone loved him so much. He was a big ole Teddy Bear and he gave big ole hugs.

Lee was a devout Catholic. He grew up in St. John’s Parish in Biloxi until later in life and moved to Woolmarket and was an active member of St. Mary’s Parish in Woolmarket. He was a member of the Biloxi Knights of Columbus #1244. He was an Eagle Scout Troop 212 of Biloxi. Lee was involved as a teenager and young adult in St. John’s CYO. He held many offices and was King of on of their carnival balls. Lee also was King of the Krewe of Athena while his sister served as Queen.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herbert and Eleanora Newman and Francis “Frank” and Gertrude Keegan; his uncles, Herbert “Brother” Newman and Perry Newman; and his aunt, Barbara Felder.

Lee is survived by his parents, Lee and Connie Keegan of Woolmarket; his children, William “Rusty” Keegan of Woolmarket and Isabella “Bella” (Joseph Lopez) Keegan of Lompoc, CA; his sister, Jennifer (Lance Petkovich) Keegan of Poplarville, MS; his nephews, Austin (Libby) Knue of Woolmarket and Brandon (Lauren) Knue of Richlands, NC; and his great nephew, Nathaniel Knue of Woolmarket. 

He also survived by his two aunts, Verna Gomila and Yvonne Braun. He leaves behind many cousins he cherished and all of the member of the Mayer family. 

Our family would like to say a special thank you to the staff of doctors, nurses and caregivers at Ochsners New Orleans 8th floor. Their support was incredible. Also, to the staff at St. Joseph Hospice in Gulfport that cared for Lee in his final days.

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 11:00 am. Friends may visit from 9:00 am until Mass time.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Francis Lee “Flee” Keegan, III.