1921
Edith
2015
Edith Carolyn Keene
January 16, 1921 — March 7, 2015
Born to William Edward Willis and Amanda Caroline Dunlap Willis on January 16, 1921, in Duplex, Fannin County, Texas¸Edith Carolyn Willis Keene went home to Heaven and was instantly face to face with Our Lord Jesus Christ on March 7, 2015. She was 94 years of age and loved to sing; always saying she wanted to "sing in the Heavenly Choir". The last half of her life was spent in Houston, Texas, working as an Optician, fitting the glasses and contact lenses of many fine citizens of southeast Texas.
Edith's Mother, Amanda, passed away due to complications of tuberculosis when Little Edith was only five years old. Her father, she called "Papa", tried to take care of all the 8 children but he couldn't take the place of their Mother. Little Edith learned very early in her tiny life to pray and to rely on God for her every need. All of her brothers and sisters were older than she and two were already married and away from home when her Mother passed away. Granny Griffin had adopted Mr. Willis when he was small, so she had always been nearby helping to care for the children as they grew into adulthood, so of course, she stepped in and raised Little Edith.
All of Edith's seven siblings pre-deceased her in death including from eldest to youngest (Edith was the youngest), Mary Alline Willis McRae, James Kingston Willis, Eva Kathryn Willis Howell, William Richard Willis, Jack Willis, Frances Arlene Willis King Sotak and Paul Stanley Willis.
On February 11, 1939, she married William Collins Keene (deceased 1978) and in July, 1940, had a child, Donald Collins Keene, who lived only a few minutes. Seven years later, a daughter, Carolyn Jane Keene was born, is now married to Russell Egan and living in Houston, Texas. Seven years after Carolyn, a son, Bill E. Keene was born, and now also lives in Houston, Texas. These two children were miracles to Edith because after the first son who died, she had been told she would never have any more children.
Now Edith, through Carolyn Jane has two Granddaughters, Joy Jones and husband, Rickey of Katy, Tx. and Angela Gleason and friend, Scott VonDollen, of Cypress, Tx; also two Great Grandchildren, from Joy, are Megan Futrell of Bismarck, ND and Brandon Futrell of Dover, Delaware.
Living a long and successful life, Edith was one of the "Rosie the Riveter" ladies at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas, during WWII. She stated that since her brothers were all at war she wanted to do her part. So she went to work "making airplanes" and thought the harder and faster she worked, the sooner her brothers could come home.
Mom loved gardening. Roses were her favorite in her later years, but in her younger years, vegetable gardening was her biggest hit....tomatoes, beans, squash. And she loved sharing with everyone!
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 12, 2015 in Wise Funeral Home Chapel, 219 West Sam Rayburn Drive, Bonham, Texas, 75418, Ph: 903-583-2161, Rev. Mickey Lyles will officiate. Interment services will be held at the Duplex Cemetery, on CR 2102, next to the Duplex Baptist Church, Duplex, Texas 75447.
Edith's Mother, Amanda, passed away due to complications of tuberculosis when Little Edith was only five years old. Her father, she called "Papa", tried to take care of all the 8 children but he couldn't take the place of their Mother. Little Edith learned very early in her tiny life to pray and to rely on God for her every need. All of her brothers and sisters were older than she and two were already married and away from home when her Mother passed away. Granny Griffin had adopted Mr. Willis when he was small, so she had always been nearby helping to care for the children as they grew into adulthood, so of course, she stepped in and raised Little Edith.
All of Edith's seven siblings pre-deceased her in death including from eldest to youngest (Edith was the youngest), Mary Alline Willis McRae, James Kingston Willis, Eva Kathryn Willis Howell, William Richard Willis, Jack Willis, Frances Arlene Willis King Sotak and Paul Stanley Willis.
On February 11, 1939, she married William Collins Keene (deceased 1978) and in July, 1940, had a child, Donald Collins Keene, who lived only a few minutes. Seven years later, a daughter, Carolyn Jane Keene was born, is now married to Russell Egan and living in Houston, Texas. Seven years after Carolyn, a son, Bill E. Keene was born, and now also lives in Houston, Texas. These two children were miracles to Edith because after the first son who died, she had been told she would never have any more children.
Now Edith, through Carolyn Jane has two Granddaughters, Joy Jones and husband, Rickey of Katy, Tx. and Angela Gleason and friend, Scott VonDollen, of Cypress, Tx; also two Great Grandchildren, from Joy, are Megan Futrell of Bismarck, ND and Brandon Futrell of Dover, Delaware.
Living a long and successful life, Edith was one of the "Rosie the Riveter" ladies at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas, during WWII. She stated that since her brothers were all at war she wanted to do her part. So she went to work "making airplanes" and thought the harder and faster she worked, the sooner her brothers could come home.
Mom loved gardening. Roses were her favorite in her later years, but in her younger years, vegetable gardening was her biggest hit....tomatoes, beans, squash. And she loved sharing with everyone!
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 12, 2015 in Wise Funeral Home Chapel, 219 West Sam Rayburn Drive, Bonham, Texas, 75418, Ph: 903-583-2161, Rev. Mickey Lyles will officiate. Interment services will be held at the Duplex Cemetery, on CR 2102, next to the Duplex Baptist Church, Duplex, Texas 75447.
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