Joseph Ray Keener

Joseph Ray Keener, age 74, passed away on August 25, 2015. He was born on August 24, 1941 in Grant, OK. Joe was the eighth child of a family of 9 children. Joe was a graduate of Ceres Union High School in Ceres, CA where he played football and baseball. He held membership in Block C and FFA. After high school, he was employed for 46 years by Pacific Gas & Electric. He also held memberships with Tuolumne County Sportsmen and Oakdale Sportsmen, in CA, and with Noxon Rod and Gun Club in Noxon, MT. Joe’s great love of sports made him a good fisherman, bird and deer hunter, and fast-pitch softball player. He played several years of fast-pitch softball in the Modesto and Stockton, CA Industrial Leagues, and five or more years of Open League / Semi-Pro softball in the central valley of CA. He is survived by his present wife of 28 years: Connie Jean Moore Keener; two daughters: Raelynn Grimm and Denise Lane; one brother: Jerry L. Keener; two sisters: Eva Reynolds and Lyndia Wilson-Saylor; four sisters-in-law: Jennie Keener (Alva), Dell Davidson (Cleo), Jacquetta Keener (Ivan), and Diana Keener (Jerry); one brother-in-law, Charles Saylor; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his parents: Olis J and Willie I Keener; three sisters: Gereldine Keener, Nola Davidson, and Nina Kirk; two brothers: Alva Keener and Ivan Keener; Four brothers-in-law: Buell Kirk, Cleo Davidson, Jerell Reynolds, and Alvin Wilson. The family wishes to thank all those who prayed and helped during our time of need and bereavement. In Joe’s memory, donations may be made to the IHC Wound Clinic. Joe had a pretty good life, in spite of the numerous medical challenges he met head-on with gigantic amounts of courage. These challenges caused him, at times, to be grumpy and sometimes down-right mean; but he strived hard to be one of the sweetest and most pleasant friend and acquaintance folks ever had the opportunity to meet. Being forced to go on long-term disability was an extremely difficult reality to which he worked very hard at adapting. In 1997, Joe, Connie, and Connie’s mother, Ina Moore, moved to the Heron and Trout Creek area of Montana. They thoroughly loved this area of the country, enjoying every minute of the beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Joe and Connie were active in the Heron and Trout Creek Senior Citizen’s Groups, were board members of the Heron Community Center, and active in the Heron Players Theatre Group. They stayed in the Heron and Trout Creek area year around until Connie’s mother passed away in November of 2003. Soon after, during the same winter, Joe became very ill making it too difficult for Connie to keep up with all the snow-shoveling, and hauling of firewood. So they decided to become “Snow Birds”, and spent several winters in Pahrump, NV, and near Quartzsite, AZ, returning to Montana late in the springs following. While living in Montana, and over-wintering in the southern states, Joe and Connie were diligent in promoting the local benefit “Friends of Kathy” – a network of wonderful Montana friends who provided funds and transportation for those having medical needs. Joe was very fond of a quote from an unknown author: “I have been beaten, kicked, lied to, cussed at, swindled, taken advantage of, and laughed at so many times, the only reason I have lived as long as I have, is to see what will happen next.” As you can probably tell by now, Joe wrote this memorial remembrance himself; so here’s to the people who may, or may not have loved Joe: If, by now, you are sitting on the edge of your seats, by careful to not fall off! Whether the above quotation is true of Joe or not, is yours to figure out. So remember: never argue with your Boss…just say “OK”, and go to work (if you believe all this, check with Connie…she might be able to sell you some of the Keener ocean-front property in AZ!). Go on now and tell each other your truths (or not-so-truths) about Joe. He says to tell you, (and I quote): “So long … I love you, one and all … and I will see you later!”

Joseph Ray Keener

August 24, 2015 - August 25, 2015