Anne G. Keen

Anne G. Keen Anne G. Keen, 97, a Vero Beach community leader and citrus grower, died Wednesday morning, July 31, at Hospice House in Vero Beach. The daughter of early Indian River County pioneers Leon and Lillie Robertson Gollnick, Anne was born May 12, 1916, on the farm on Citrus Road (now 4th Street), where she lived most of her life. Vero Beach was "an idyllic place to grow up," she told an interviewer. Anne was valedictorian of Vero Beach High School's Class of 1934 and graduated from Stetson University in Deland in 1938 with a BS in Commercial Subjects. After returning to Vero in 1938, she taught bookkeeping and business at VBHS. In 1941, she married Joel Keen, whom she had met in Gainesville while studying for her teaching certificate at the University of Florida. A Captain in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, Joel died in 1947. Anne raised two children, Joel, Jr. and Barbara, while managing the family's citrus business. She also taught adult shorthand and typing classes and worked as a substitute teacher at VBHS. As one of the many newspaper articles about her noted, for many years Anne's spare hours were "not really spare." She served on numerous boards, including the Florida State Welfare Board, the Indian River Farm Bureau, the Girl Scouts of Indian River County, the Beautification Society of Vero Beach, and the Vero Beach Public Library, including as Secretary during the years of planning and fundraising for the new library on 20th St. She was a Life Member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and served as the President, Vice-President, and Secretary. She was Director of the 10th District of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and was named a Life Member in recognition of her service to the Garden Club of Indian River County, which she served as President, Parliamentarian, and Treasurer. She was Noble Grand of the Rebekah Assembly of Fort Piece, a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha and Phi Beta Psi social sororities, and of Delta Kappa Gamma, the education professional society. She was extremely proud of her participation in the Indian River Historical Society and its restoration of the Vero Beach Train Station. She was serving as its president in 1986-7 when the station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. As an extraordinarily active and valued member of her community, she was honored as Woman of the Year in 1964 by the Vero Beach Business and Professional Women's Club. Anne's engaging smile, sunny nature, and ready laugh were beloved by all. She was devoted to her son, Joel P. Keen, Jr., and his wife, Faye, of Vero Beach; her daughter, Barbara K. Parker, and her husband, Daniel, of Fairfax, VA; and seven grandchildren and eleven great- grandchildren. Friends may call at Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home on Monday, August 5, 11 AM - 1 PM. Services follow at the funeral home at 1 PM. Burial will be in Crestlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers friends may make a contribution in memory of Anne to the Indian River Historical Society, the Garden Club of Indian River County, or an organization of their choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffor dseawinds.com . Paid Obituary