Joseph Keene

GRUNDY – Joseph "Joe" Keene, 52 years of age, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born in Buchanan County, Aug. 12, 1953, he was the son of the late Ed Keene and Nancy Thornsbury Keene. He attended Penn State University and Southwest Virginia Community College, where he received a national electronics certification, an employee of Jewell Smokeless Coal Corp. and was a member of the Maple Grove Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon. He was an avid outdoorsman and golfer. He was a member of the Willow Brook County Club and the Dismal River Hunting Club. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 17 AF & AM.
He was a servant for Buchanan County, where he served on many boards including, Buchanan County Board of Supervisors North Grundy District. He was presently serving on several boards of Buchanan County including the Board of Directors of the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Authority, Buchanan County Disability Service Board and People Incorporated Board of Directors. He was also serving on the Board of Trustees of the University of Appalachia and a member of the Slate Creek Fire Department. He was a great supporter of the Buchanan County Technology and Career Program and chairman of the General Advisory Committee.
He was former member and chairman of the Buchanan County School Board and former vice chairman of the Buchanan County Democratic Electoral Board.
He was one of the founders of the Buchanan County Public Schools Educational Foundation, whose primary function is to award scholarships to seniors of all high schools in the county. He was serving as chairman of this foundation.
Joseph "Joe" Keene was a dedicated, soft spoken, hardworking, compassionate public official, who was a man of honor and integrity, who served Buchanan County well as one of its leaders during a period of great achievement for the county.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Hufford Keene.
He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Veronica Jean Stacy Keene of Grundy; one daughter, Amanda Paige Keene of Grundy; one son, Dr. Anthony Paul Keene of Dayton, Ohio; mother-in-law, Nora Stacy of Grundy; three sisters, Audrey Matney of Grundy, Kansas Cole of Pilgrims Knob and Alice Justus of Jolo, W.Va.; three brothers, Jack Keene, Earl Keene and Willie Keene, all of Grundy; four sisters-in-law, Linda Chaney of Abingdon, Rita Matney of Grundy, Mona Anderson of Abingdon and Kimberly Ratliff of Rosedale; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service for Joseph "Joe" Keene will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at 1 p.m. at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with Evangelists Burb Riffe, Michael Trent and Hobert Kennedy and the Rev. Jerry Wilson officiating. Entombment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Va.
Active pallbearers will be Sonnie Matney, Terry Matney, Steve Hurley, Carl Street, James Stacy, Jimmy Stiltner, Keith Kennedy, Darrell Cantrell, the Rev. Jerry Wilson and Robert Rife.
Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Looney, Donnie Mullins, Eugene Anderson, Dickey Chaney, Willie Keene, Donald Matney, Ricky Wadell, Gary Prater, James Keene, Tim Ratliff, Gerald Kendrick, Carl Evans, Willard Wagner, Lonzo Ward, nephews and Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
Evening service will be held Friday at 7 at the funeral home. Full Masonic Rites will be conducted at the funeral home Friday evening at 7 by the Grundy Masonic Lodge 17 AF & AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Grove Church of Christ, HC 61, Box 64B, Grundy, VA 24614.
Memorial condolences may be sent to the family at www.shortridgeramey.com.
The family of Joseph "Joe" Keene is being served by Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy.