Kenneth C. Keener

Kenneth "Ken" C. Keener, 74, of Palm Springs, CA, passed away on November 5, 2007. He was born on November 30, 1932. Ken, as all of his friends knew him, was born in Georgetown, TX. The family shortly moved to Alvin, TX where he attended elementary, high school and Alvin Junior College. After Junior College, Ken went to school at The University of Texas in Austin, where he was graduated with a degree in history. That was followed by a tour with the United States Army where he became an electrical specialist in radar repair. Following his military duty, Ken returned to The University of Texas and enrolled in their prestigious Law School where he wrote various articles for the world renowned Texas Law Review. Upon completion of Law School, Ken became a briefing attorney with the Texas Supreme Court. While in Austin, Ken met his lifetime partner, Bob Bernat, of 47 years. They moved to Houston in 1960, where they both worked for Gulf Oil until it was sold to Chevron. Ken was a major legal representative for Gulf Chemicals World Wide until his retirement from Gulf in mid 1980. Ken was probably one of the foremost oil and gas attorneys in the United States. Ken was licensed as a lawyer to present cases to not only the Texas Supreme Court, but also the United States Supreme Court. After leaving Gulf Oil (Chevron), Ken had a second career with Cooper Industries where he was in charge of the litigation department until his final retirement in August 1996. At that point, Ken and Bob returned to their founding roots in Austin, TX. In 1999 they both moved to Palm Springs and found a total new group of friends and community of caring friends. Ken became very involved, as he always did, in community service, where he became a board member and later a three term President of Prime Timers of the Desert in Palm Springs, the largest Prime Timers Association in the world. Ken brought new innovations to the group with an official office and the beginning of on line access to a developed web site. When Ken completed a three year term as President and could no longer hold office, he continued to be a major supporter of the group. It was here with the Prime Timers that Ken and Bob renewed their avid interest in bridge and played with the Prime Timers every Wednesday, currently at the Golden Rainbow Senior Center in Cathedral City, CA where Ken was Vice President. He was also a member of the Black Tie Club International. Ken and Bob subscribed to both The Desert Sun and The LA Times. This was so that each would have their own crossword puzzle to work. Saturdays were the most difficult of all the puzzles. They were both members of the Men's Thursday Lunch Bunch. Ken and Bob had, and will still have, a wonderful group of lasting friends from Houston, Austin, and Palm Springs. All our lives have been enriched by knowing them and all of their friends are so happy to still have Bob Bernat around to talk about all our old memories. In addition to his life partner, Bob Bernat of 47 years, Ken is survived by two sisters, Janice Stavinoah and husband Ivan and Katherine Lunday and husband Louis, all of Alvin, TX; nieces, Rhonda Ruellas and her daughter Erica and Luwanda Pendleton and her son George, also of Texas. A service is scheduled at St. Paul's of the Desert Episcopal Church on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life Service will be announced. Thanks for the memories, Ken!