E. Houston "Ed" KEEHNER

KEEHNER, E. Houston 'Ed'
Born in Sacramento on June 26, 1917, and residing there his entire life, Houston passed away on 12/9/2013. His parents were the late Edward A. and Gertrude Keehner of Sacramento. He was the loving and devoted husband of the late Joyce Bovey Keehner for 59 years. They were blessed with three children, James E. Keehner of Salem, OR. (wife Carolyn); David H. Keehner of Placerville, CA (wife Marilyn); and Phyllis Helsel of Sacramento (husband Norman). Beloved grandfather of Karen Viskov (Jim) of Beaverton, OR; Robert Keehner (Velina) and Lori Ferguson (Kevin) of Salem, OR. Barbara Dorr (Brad) of Clovis, CA; Cheryl Bateman (Sean) of Eagan, MN; Donalyn Ruiz (Lawrence) of San Jose, CA; Stephen Helsel and Gwen Rubio (Phillip) of Sacramento, CA; 14 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He had two sisters: Betty Rizzi of Davis, CA. and Barbara Alger of Sacramento, CA, both deceased. Houston served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II; was a sixty year member of three Masonic bodies, namely Washington Lodge #20 F and A M; Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies and Ben Ali Temple of the Shrine; and a life member of Court #119, Royal Order of Jesters. He played drums in the Shrine Concert Band for 32 years and the Potentates Dance band for 25 years. He was a member and past chairman of the Shrine Greeters Committee and also a member of the Scottish Rite Greeters and Chairman of the dinner ticket sales committee. In 2003, he was elected to receive the rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. He was a Past Big Sir of Branch #9, Sons in Retirement and in 2006 received the Honorary Life Member designation. He also played drums in the band that accompanies the SIRS Branch 33 Country Club Aires, a men's chorus that performs numerous times each year at rest homes and assisted living facilities to bring a little joy to those less fortunate than ourselves. One thing Houston looked forward to each summer was seeing his many friends at the gate of the Music Circus as he took their tickets. He had done this for 50 years. Since the loss of Joyce, he has worked more than 4000 hours as a volunteer at the Shrine Hospital for Children in Sacramento. What he called the highlight of his life came early. In 1928, his elementary school band won a band contest in Woodland and the prize included playing a short concert in the new Memorial Auditorium prior to a concert of the U.S. Military Band led by John Phillip Sousa on his last tour of the country. As the final number of the school bands concert, the March King Sousa directed them playing his famous March Stars and Stripes Forever.
Friends are welcome to a visitation on Friday, December 13, 2013 from 4-8 P.M. at Harry A. Naumans Land Park Chapel, 4041 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento. Private Entombment for family only. A Masonic and Memorial service will be held on later day at the First United Methodist Church, 2100 Jay Street, Sacramento. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Shrine Hospital for Children, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento,95817; the Scottish Rite Clinic for Language Disorders, 6151 H Street, Sacramento, 95819; or the First United Methodist Church, 2100 Jay Street, Sacramento, 95816 Sacramento where he was a member for over 80 years.