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"Please keep the (Buckin' Donkey) family in your prayers today," employees of the Buckin' Donkey wrote on the restaurant-bar's Facebook page Monday. "We lost a wonderful soul last night... Sean McKown, you will be so missed. ... We love you so much! We will have a celebration of life and will keep everybody updated when it will be."
The restaurant opened today, Feb. 11, as usual. "We will be open today, doing 'Donkey as usual' for Sean," employees said in a Facebook post late this morning. "Please come see us for Taco Tuesday!"
Credit: Amelia Robinson
Credit: Amelia Robinson
The Monday notice of McKown’s passing prompted an outpouring of grief and support from the pub’s customers and friends.
“This is a hit to our community,” one commenter wrote. “Sean was a good man with a kind heart.”
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Shanon Morgan, president of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, said she was saddened to hear of Sean’s passing.
“Sean has been a long-time member of Dayton’s food community and a good guy,” Morgan told this news outlet. “I admired Sean’s tenacity and unwillingness to give up on his dream! He had quite a few bumps in the road and obstacles with both Buckin’ Donkey locations, but he never gave up. His passion and grit held strong, and he will be greatly missed.”
“I’m sure he’s rooting for his Steelers in the sky tonight,” Morgan said.
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McKown had more than two decades of experience working at several bars and restaurants in the Miami Valley and in Arizona, including Dayton-area establishments Oregon Express, Harrigan’s and Barleycorn’s, prior to opening the first Buckin’ Donkey. He said in 2012 that he had been looking to open his own place for several years.
Another friend and customer, Linda Burton, said she had known McKown for 20 years.
“His food menu was amazing and full of love,” Burton told this news outlet. “We loved his food and presence in the industry. We are so saddened by the news. He was our personal friend.”
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