Overwhelmed - that's how Kelly Keller and Mary Ann Beahon described feeling after hearing that a Rotary International clean water project was dedicated and renamed in honor of the late Mike Beahon, Kelly's father and Mary Ann's husband.
"(I'm) overwhelmed. He'd be very proud," Keller said with tears in her eyes.
Mike Beahon passed away due to complications of kidney failure in July 2014. Before his passing, Mike served as the District Governor for Rotary District 6080 and was a longtime Rotarian prior to that. Keller said her father loved Rotary and added that the only thing he loved more was his family.
The $192,000 clean water project, named in Mike Beahon's honor as a living memorial, will drill deep wells in the Nzawa, Kithumula and Masanni communities of Kenya in an effort to provide the residents a source of clean water. Each well site will also have a powerhouse, tank stand, water tank and kiosk distribution system. A committee comprised of community members in Kenya will oversee the maintenance and operation of the water well project.
At Fulton Rotary's regular meeting Wednesday afternoon, Leslie Mitkos Jr., district governor for Rotary District 6490 discussed the project and shared with Mary Ann Beahon and Keller that it would be done in honor of their loved one. The project was renamed to "In Honor of DG Mike Beahon's Living Memorial-Service Above Self."
"It's in honor of Mike that we made this happen," Mitkos said.
Mitkos said 11 Rotary districts donated to the project. He too described himself as feeling overwhelmed when he looks at the project's scope. He said Rotary International is in the process of "crossing its t's and dotting its i's" to make the project as sustainable as it can be over time.
"They are looking at it to make sure Mike's memorial becomes a living, breathing example of what we as Rotarians can do to touch the lives of people that we've never met," Mitkos said.
As a concrete reminder of the water project dedicated to Mike Beahon, Mitkos also made a small globe, which rotates in the light with heat. As the globe rotates on its pedestal, Kenya always gravitates to the top. He gave the globe to Mary Ann Beahon Wednesday and she said she is going to display it in her home.
"My wife and I wanted to give you and your family this gift to remember that you are part of our family and as part of that family, we can change the world," Mitkos said to Beahon and Keller. "There's no doubt in my mind this project - as it touches the lives of 25,000 people - will make a difference."
Before Mike joined Rotary, Mary Ann said her husband worked for Jaycees International where he served as the director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. That position took him to Africa. And later on, Mike spent about two years in Africa as the managing director of Africana Breweries in Nigeria. While he held that position, he, Mary Ann and Keller had the opportunity to travel within the continent.
Mike, Mary Ann said, "had a heart for Africa." She added that she and her daughter both have a heart for it, too.
"Once you experience Africa, it just stays with you," Mary Ann Beahon said. "It's an unbelievable continent."
Keller was a small child at the time and doesn't remember much of her family's time in Africa, but said it was a time her father always spoke fondly of. She said the clean water project in Kenya combines her father's love for Africa with his love for serving others.
"Growing up my whole life, he always loved doing service projects," Keller said. "And the fact that it's something in Africa makes it even more special."
Megan Favignano can be reached at (573) 826-2417 or [email protected].