Sandy McKeon, a local cattle rancher, passed away on November 22, 2023.

He was born in Manhattan to Robert and Margot McKeon on December 17, 1933, joining his older brother, Bob.

He attended Southern Arizona School for Boys in Tucson through high school graduation in 1952.

All of the students had horses as part of their curriculum.  Sandy enjoyed playing polo and roping while he was growing up.

He attended UC Davis to study Animal Science and was an ROTC student.

After graduating, he served in the US Army. It was on assignment in Germany that he met the love of his life, Margaret Weimar.

They married shortly thereafter and relocated to California, where Sandy received a master’s degree at UC Berkeley.

They settled in Oakdale in the 1960’s and raised eight children on the McKeon Ranch.

Sandy was deeply devoted to God. He would wake up before sunrise to drink coffee and read the Bible. He wasn’t shy to share his faith and was a godfather to over 30 people. He was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Sandy and Margaret loved to travel, visiting relatives and friends all over the world. In return, they were regularly hosting. As a couple, they were rarely apart during 54 years of marriage until Margaret’s sudden death in 2012.

Sandy was kind, generous, and hospitable … he lived his faith.

Survivors include children: Mia (Jon) Gregoriev, Frances (Muffie) McKeon, Margot Grych, Anne (Don) Anderson, Alex (Lia) McKeon, Meghan (Terry) Ferg, Christopher (Shelby) McKeon, Caitlin (Josh) Robertson; brother, Bob McKeon of Paris, France; and 15 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Oakdale Memorial Chapel, as well as a rosary vigil at 6 p.m. Oakdale Memorial Chapel is located at 830 West F Street in Oakdale. A Burial Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at 1225 Olive Street in Oakdale. Friends and family are welcome to join in celebrating his life.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Dec. 6, 2023