James D. McKean passed away at home on Sept. 15th at the age of 68. James was born and raised in Dorchester and graduated from Boston English High School. He entered the US Army in 1955 and served during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Army in 1963 James moved to Melrose in 1966 and has been a resident for the past 37 years. He worked for the US Post Office South Postal Annex as a data collection technician from 1967 to his retirement in 1992. He was a member of the AmVets in Melrose and the VFW Harold O'Young Post #2394 in Melrose. He was the husband of Margaret H. (Hines) McKean. Father of Helena A. Bender & her husband Christopher of Tewksbury, James D. McKean Jr. & his wife Lisa of Arkansas, Nancy J. McKean of Melrose and the late Edward P. McKean. Son of the late Perley W. & Helen (Holmes) McKean. Stepson of the late Vera (MacPhee) McKean. Brother of Joseph McKean of Melrose and Patricia Longchamps of Nevada. Grandfather of Mark & Sean Bender. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Monday Sept. 22nd at 9AM. Funeral mass in St. Mary's Church Herbert St. Melrose at 10AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Sunday 2-6PM. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery Melrose. US Army Korean War Veteran.In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to American Stroke Association 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-4688 or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 220 N. Main St., Natick, MA 01760