Lurgan native Mr Michael McKeown is hailed as a highly respected and trailblazing entrepreneur as well as a family man at his packed funeral in Newry Cathedral.

Mr McKeown, a former Past President of Newry Chamber, died, aged 80, in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday (September 15) surrounded by his family.

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Lurgan native Mr Michael McKeown, a successful businessman who created CRASH Services, has died in his adopted home of Newry, Co Armagh.

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Michael spent three years working as a primary school teacher in Lurgan before joining the family business Reihill McKeown, Wholesale Wines & Spirits.

There followed a spell as an insurance broker before he branched into software development, but without doubt his greatest business success was the founding of CRASH Services, his ‘genius idea to represent the insured driver better than the insurance company’.

The Newry based company with additional offices in Belfast, Derry and Mallusk continues to flourish with his son Jonathan at the helm. Michael, late of Forest Hills, Newry, and formerly of Silverwood, Lurgan, was the beloved husband of Carmel and a loving father of Colin, Phillip, Jonathan and Tony.

He was the loving son of the late Terrance and Catherine McKeown (Kiln Lane, Silverwood) Michael was brother of Máire, Junior, Diarmuid, Donagh and Aideen, and the late Frankie, Jim, Patricia, Jackie and Gerald. At the Cathedral of St. Patrick and St. Colman, Newry. Requiem Mass was led by Canon Francis Brown with family friends Canon Liam Stevenson, Fr Sourish, Fr Donal and Fr Andrew assisting. Archbishop Eamon Martin also took part in the ceremony.

At the beginning of Mass Seamus McKenna brought up a CRASH Services numberplate representing all the businesses McKeown had started. Canon Brown noted that just last weekend McKeown said the business would not have happened without McKenna's encouragement.

His grandchildren brought up other cherished memories. Harry brought up a golf club symbolising his grandparents great love of golf. Liam brought up 'The Book of Newry' reflecting his grandfather's life-long love of Newry and passion for local history. Fintan brought up a family photograph celebrating the love they shared and Megan brought his distinctive fedora hat, a nod to his unique sense of fashion.

Canon Brown said: "He was someone during his life who had a great influence on so many people, both family, friends, and parishioners. He was someone who is known far and wide for his kindness and attention to people.

"He and Carmel contributed generously to the building of St Mary's Primary School in northern Nigeria over several years, and once the primary school was completed, they contributed to the building of the post-primary school for girls. The school has currently in the region of 200 students who board at the school.

"He was a caring, loving, thoughtful, single-minded, considerate person, an entrepreneur. He was one of life's gentlemen, a quiet, reflective man."

Speaking at the funeral Jonathan McKeown spoke of his father as a trailblazer: "With Tony and Philip later joining the business, and Colin working with Dad on his literary projects, what Dad created became much bigger than one company. Thirty years later, there are 1000s of people working in an industry which, in this part of the world, Michael created. He didn't help to create it - He created it! He was a trailblazer, and he absolutely relished being one."

He added "But throughout all those struggles, Dad always looked after the people around him. To many of the staff, a lot of whom are here today, he was a second daddy. So much so that I know that the pain of losing him is felt deeply by them too, and that matters far more than any business success."

Mr McKeown probably knew more about Newry than most Newry people, even though he only moved to the town in 1995. In 2008 he produced 'The Book of Newry' for the Old Newry Society, the ultimate go-to book for an in-depth study of our home city. Another publication included 'Matt D'Arcy and Old Newry Whiskies'.

His brother Donagh said: "He was driven to be successful in business. What really drove him was his deep and abiding passion for history, local history at that. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Newry, his town of residence from the mid 1990s. From being part of the Old Newry Society to participating in activities in Newry Museum or producing the definitive Book Of Newry, not to mention his contributions in the foundations of the O'Fiach Library in Armagh. It was always a labour of love."

Conor Patterson, President of Newry Chamber said: "Michael brought great energy and ideas to the role during his time as President and had a deep passion for Newry and its people. He was a great historian and was able to trace the history of the Newry Chamber to 1820, over seven decades from the date it originally thought the organisation was founded.

“He was a force of nature and will be greatly missed." Jerome Mullen, a Past President of the Chamber and close friend of Michael, paid tribute to him, saying: "Michael was such a kind and generous person."

Columba O'Hare, Editor of Newry.ie said: "Michael was also a generous and enthusiastic supporter of Newry.ie and his advice and insights were always spot on. His enthusiasm was infectious. I will always be eternally thankful for our catch-ups even if all too few. He truly has written his own chapter in the Book of Newry."

Michael Savage, CEO of Newry Chamber added: "Michael played a key role in the restructuring of the Chamber and significantly widening its membership, laying the foundations that has led to the success Newry Chamber is today.”

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty described Michael as a ‘visionary trailblazer whose infectious enthusiasm, energy and resilience were his hallmarks’.

MP Daire Hughes said: "His local historical research and writing was as insightful as it was fascinating, and of immense value."