Keith Dean McGranahan

Sep 5, 1943 -

May 3, 2024

After more than eight years of living with Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Keith Dean McGranahan, 80, passed away on May 3, 2024, at the Anchorage Pioneer Home. Toward the end of his long journey, he was at peace with the world and what he called his "withdrawing" to a better place. Throughout his whole life, he kept his sense of humor and felt the love of his family.

Keith was born in Denver, Colo., to Benton Grider and Gertrude Alice McGranahan. He was raised in Raytown, a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. He joined a caving and adventure club in high school, where he made many lifelong friends who continued to have grand adventures throughout adulthood, including a recent one when the group took to Alaska to visit Keith.

Keith graduated from high school in 1961, and went to the University of Missouri, Kansas City, for both his undergraduate and dental degrees. In summer 1963, at the age of 20, Keith and his 16-year-old neighbor, Mike Regan, drove to Alaska in a Chevy Suburban for a grand adventure, and found jobs as painters to fund the trip. Keith's love of Alaska was born. One of the schools they painted, Government Hill Elementary, was largely destroyed six months later during the 1964 earthquake.

During dental school, he went on a blind date with Merry Ann Boring, a radiologic technologist, and on Nov. 25, 1965, he married Merry Ann, the love of his life. After Keith graduated dental school in 1967, he enlisted and served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Elmendorf, Alaska, so he again drove the Alcan to Alaska in September 1967, this time with a wife in tow.

After leaving the Air Force in 1970, Keith practiced dentistry in Anchorage, Alaska, with other dentists before setting up his own practice in 1980. He loved dentistry and all his patients with a passion. Keith retired in 2016, after almost 50 years of practicing "his art." Keith also belonged to Rotary since the mid-1970s.

Keith enjoyed many adventures in Alaska with his friends and family, including several that turned into "survival stories" to be told and retold. But his favorite adventure had to be forming a family with Merry Ann. The couple had three daughters, two born early in their marriage, Jahna Marie and Gayla Ann, and Dana Lynn, 10 years later. He loved to embarrass his girls by driving them around town in his 1964 Corvette convertible while brushing his teeth.

Keith is survived by Merry Ann McGranahan, Jahna Lindemuth, Gayla and Jeff Ranf and Ryan Potter; and grandchildren, Garen Teders, Ian Teders, Col Lindemuth, Elias Lindemuth and Alice Potter. His daughter Dana passed away on Nov. 8, 2023. The family will hold a joint memorial service for Keith and Dana on May 18, 2024, at 2 p.m., at Anchorage Lutheran Church at 14th Avenue and N Street in Anchorage. The family also sends their many thanks to the Anchorage Pioneer Home staff for their wonderful care of "Dr. Mac" over the last year.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska.