C. L. Keene

C. L. Keene

Memorial services for C. L. Keene, age 75, were held on Saturday, July 5, 2014, at St Edward Catholic Church in Tallulah, Louisiana, with Visitation at 9:30 a.m. in the Church Hall followed by Mass of the Resurrection in the church at 11 a.m. Father Ron Mathews officiated. Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

C. L. was born on February 1, 1939 and died on July 3, 2014 at The Olive Branch Senior Care Center in Tallulah where he had resided since October 2012. A lifelong resident of Tallulah, C.L. was graduated from Tallulah High School. He obtained a Bachelor of AgBusiness from Southern State College in Magnolia, Arkansas.

C.L. served in the U.S. Navy where he was a submarine sonar technician. His career in law enforcement included service with the Madison Parish Sheriff's Office as a deputy, Trooper with Louisiana State Police, Probation and Parole Officer with the Department of Corrections, and Regional Administrator of Child Support Enforcement. Following his official retirement, C.L. made "volunteering" a second career as he worked at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge as the Coordinator of Volunteers and was active in 4-H activities at the parish, region, state, and Southeast region levels.

A member of Louisiana Cattlemen's Association, he served as District Vice President, Chairman of the Board of Vice Presidents, and Director of Youth Activities. He created the "first in the U.S." Junior Cattlemen Association which is celebrating its 27th anniversary this year. For his efforts in this area, on the organization's 25th Anniversary, the AgExpo Junior Livestock Show was dedicated to him as was the 2012 Northeast Louisiana Livestock Show. Because of his extensive work in 4-H, he was inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame in 2012.

C.L. is survived by his wife of 53 ½ years, Ann, who he always introduced as his "first wife"; his three children, MaryKathryn Book (husband Nap) of Tallulah, C.W. Keene (wife Alyce) of Tallulah, and Meg Thomas (husband Paul) of Bossier City; grandchildren, Chelsea Keene, Katie Book, AnnaBeth Book (all of Tallulah), Summer Thomas Robin, Michael Thomas, John Thomas and Lawton Thomas (all of Bossier City) and Great grandchild, Evie Book (Tallulah) . C.L.'s surviving siblings are Delores Katzenmeyer (husband Bill) of Denham Springs; Michael Keene (wife Marcie) of Abilene, Texas; and Thomas P. Keene (wife Janice) of Baton Rouge, La.

Predeceasing C.L. were his grandmother with whom he lived as a child, Elizabeth Westmoreland; grandfather, Ludie Westmoreland; mother, Kathryn W. Brown; father, Clyde Jack Keene; sister, LouAnna B. Gardner; and brother, William Keene. Also, his aunt, Betty W. Williamson, her husband, Cordes, and their daughter, Ginny W. Brown, who were a large part of his life.

Special thanks for their incredible care to the staff and medical professionals at The Olive Branch Senior Care Center, Tallulah. A very special thank you to Judy Beard for her countless hours of care and dedication to C.L. over the last five years.

Any planned memorials could be made to Madison 4-H Foundation, 114 Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA 71282, St Edward Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1308, Tallulah, LA or a charity of your choice.

Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home

Tallulah, LA