Obituary of Roger A. Keating

~Roger A. Keating, 69, of Malone, NY., passed away unexpectedly Monday, May15, 2017, while doing what he loved most, working in the woods on his farm.
   Born in Malone, NY., October 16, 1947, he was the son of the late James and Helen Riley Keating. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Ursuline Academy, in Malone, NY., in 1965. He later graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, VT. and Castleton State College, in Castleton, VT.
   On April 17, 1971, he was united in marriage to the former Janet H. Mallette at Notre Dame Church, in Malone, NY., by Rev. Arthur J. LaBaff. She survives.
   Roger began his teaching career at St. Joseph’s Ursuline Academy, in Malone NY., where he taught from 1970 until the school closed in 1975. He then taught at St. Regis Falls Central School, in St. Regis Falls, NY., from 1975 until 1988. In 1988, he accepted a teaching position at Brushton Moira Central School, in Brushton, NY., where he taught until he retired in 2013. For many years, he taught adult classes at North Country Community College, at the Malone, NY. campus. He also owned and operated his family's farm, where he raised beef cattle and sheep. For the past forty six years, Roger owned and operated the Cedar Gun Shop.
   He was a communicant of St. Andre Bessette Parish. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and a past member of the Malone Lodge of Elks. He served as president of the Town of Malone Assessors Board of which he was a long time member. He had also served for several years on the North Franklin Credit Union Board.
 He excelled on learning and teaching about the history of the North Country and the names of the families that founded this area. He was an avid hunter for deer, rabbits and coyotes. He also raised hunting beagles. His favorite times were spent in his gun shop, gun shows or even a local store or church chatting with friends.
   Along with his wife, Janet, he is survived by two sons and daughters in law, Chad and Hilary Keating of Morrisonville, NY., Kyle and Rachel Keating of Plattsburgh, NY., two daughters and sons in law, Tammy and James Malark, Jr., of Malone, NY., and Lisa and Jared Spinner of Belmont, NY., one brother, Howard Keating of Goshen, NY., nine grandchildren, Tayler, Kayli and Connor Malark, Riley and Sage Spinner, Peyten, Reid, Easton and Cooper Keating. He will surely be missed by his faithful companion, his dog, Piper.
   Besides his parents, he was predeceased by one brother, Richard Keating, one sister, Mary Keating, two sisters in law, Pauline and Dorothy Keating and one nephew, Mark Keating.
   Calling hours will be Friday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home, in Malone, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. Notre Dame Church, in Malone, NY. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, on the Lake Titus Road, in Malone, NY.
   Donations may be made in his memory to the Brushton-Moira Dollars for Scholars Roger Keating Memorial Scholarship Fund at www.brushtonmoira.dollarsforscholars.org.
   Arrangements are through the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Service, Inc. in Malone, NY.
   Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brusofuneralservice.com.