Michael Keniry

Keniry, 55, was known for acting, humor. A celebration of life for Jackson resident Michael Lee Keniry will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Elks Lodge in Jackson. He died April 14 at home. The following was provided by his family. Michael was born Dec. 26, 1953 in Hampton, Iowa, one of eight children. When he was about 5 years old, his family sold the farm and moved to Eldora, Iowa. Eldora is where Michael grew up, was schooled and from where he drew his many colorful impersonations of hometown characters. He was a champion wrestler in high school and a jack of all trades, from milking cows to building hog confinements. Michael moved to Jackson in 1981. His first job here was groundskeeper at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club. He then worked for the school district for six years, during which time he was assistant coach to the middle-school and high-school wrestling programs. He then took some time off for one of his greatest adventures, a six-week trip to Alaska. Michael also discovered theater in Jackson. Unbeknownst to him and his friends, he was a natural. He became one of the community's most popular actors. He was most proud of his work in the play Lone Star. He, Mike Torkelson and Tupper Cullom, directed by Shirlene Peterson, won a regional one-act competition, placed third in nationals in Haines, Alaska, and ultimately got to perform this play in New York City. He is best known for his role as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. The stage is also where he met his wife, Kathleen. Michael married Kathleen, who has two children, Jessica and Gabriel, in 1991. For the last few years, Michael had his own house-painting business called Color Your World. Michael loved Jackson and all it had to offer. Known as a fisherman's fisherman, he loved camping, hiking, hunting - anything to do with the outdoors. He also loved to travel, returning to Alaska two more times, plus trips to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Europe. Michael was known for his great joke-telling ability and many quips and quotes on life such as: "I can go to church and think about fishing or I can go fishing and think about God" and "A man who cuts his own firewood is heated twice by his wood. Once by the cutting and once by the burning." And most famous of all, "It's a small world, but I'd hate to have to paint it." Michael was a great friend to all he knew and had a great heart. His sister Carolyn said he was the most loving brother a sister could have. Michael joins his brother Roger and grandson Macoy in passing and is survived by Kathleen Keniry and Jessica and Gabriel Schiers; his daughter, Mindy Ramsey; grandsons Miles, Mason and Maxwell; his sisters Carolyn, Joan, Rita and Delores of Texas and Marlene of Iowa; and his brother Donovan of Arizona. Michael will be greatly missed as one of those great characters of Jackson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an account in his name at the Bank of Jackson Hole.

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