Keith McCrea, 67, who practiced law in the District of Columbia for more than 40 years, passed away Friday at his home in Dickerson, Md. The cause of death was melanoma.

Mr. McCrea was born in Western Pennsylvania.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University and received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

He was a partner with the firm of Sutherland Asbill and Brennan since 1990 and previously had been a partner with Squires Sanders and Dempsey, and Grove Jaskiewicz and Gilliam. He specialized in energy law and played a leading role in the restructuring of the natural gas and electric industries in California and how they are regulated at the state and federal levels. He was regularly listed among the top energy lawyers in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. by Chambers, The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

In his youth, Keith excelled at baseball, playing shortstop at Lehigh University and semiprofessionally. He was an avid hunter and fly-fisherman, and enjoyed competing in sporting clay tournaments. He always enjoyed working on the farm.

He will be missed by his wife of 44 years, Penelope McCrea; their children, Conor and his wife, Shelly, Chad and his wife, Erika, and Caitlin; his grandchildren, Everett and Katherine; his mother, Verna McCrea; his brother, Gary McCrea; and his sister, Sue Lovett.

He was preceded in death by his father, Russ McCrea.

McCrea — The family of Keith McCrea, who passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday with remarks at 3 p.m. at Keith's farm, 1349 Sugarloaf Mountain Road, Dickerson, Md.The family asks for donations to support research efforts to eradicate melanoma. Please indicate the donation is in memory of Keith McCrea and in support of Dr. Evan Lipson's research. Checks can be made payable to Johns Hopkins Medicine and mailed to Dina Mallis Klicos, Kimmel Cancer Center Development Office, 740 E. Pratt St., Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202 or at https://secure.jhu.edu/form/kimmel.