The Wright City Parks Department and the community’s Parks Foundation have created a permanent landmark to celebrate the life of former Parks Director Curt Kehoe each holiday season.

That landmark is an evergreen Norway spruce tree, which was used last Friday, Dec. 4, for Wright City’s first community Christmas tree lighting at Diekroeger Park. Those who planned the event hope it will become an annual tradition.

The lighting ceremony served as a commemoration for Kehoe, who died unexpectedly in May. His wife, Kathy, said Christmas festivities were one of his favorite times of the year.

“When Curt first became parks director, he started the very first Christmas parade. He always thought there should be a community Christmas tree in the park where people could come see it,” Kathy recalled. “Christmas brings the community together, especially the parade and breakfast with Santa. It was, to him, an icon of bringing everyone together.”

Kathy Kehoe is a member of the nonprofit Wright City Parks Foundation, which she said used funds donated after Curt died to purchase and plant the spruce tree at Diekroeger Park. The tree will be decorated for Christmas each year, and should eventually grow up to 50 feet tall.

“That’s when we’re going to call the fire department and ask to use their ladder,” Kathy quipped. She added that it would be nice to have holiday events, such as caroling, around the tree once it gets larger.

Kathy said she was happy to see family and members of the community attend the first tree lighting. She marked the occasion by playing Christmas tunes by Alvin and the Chipmunks, one of Curt’s favorite albums.

Several attendees donated money to the parks foundation for future park improvements, which Kathy said was added to by $464 from the Dave Heiliger Memorial Foundation.

Liz Schubert, with the Wright City Parks Department, said she hopes to carry on one of Kehoe’s wishes by making the Christmas tree lighting the start of the community’s festivities each December.

“Christmas was his favorite holiday out of all of the events we ever planned. This was the one he got most excited about. He spent his own money every year to make sure things were decorated and kids had things to take home with them,” Schubert said. “The biggest thing Curt brought was just his personality. He was so happy at any event, willing to talk to anybody. ... He always said, ‘We are the happy park people.’”

It’s been a strange year without programs and without Kehoe’s presence, Schubert said. She hopes the new Christmas tradition will become one more part of the community festivities Kehoe worked to provide.