I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course… Mr. Carl Keene, age 73, of Morganton, North Carolina, formerly of Rowe, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 15, 2013 in a Kingsport, Tennessee hospital. Born March 12, 1940 in Rowe, Virginia, he was the first born of the late Edward Joseph (Edd J.) and State Ira Street Keene. He spent most of his life in and around the Rowe, Virginia area later moving to North Carolina. He was best described by a young doctor that was taking care of him, "He is what I like to call a free spirit."
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three infant sons, Rickey, Zachary, and Kevin Keene, two sisters, Shelva Jean Compton, and Barbara Joan Compton, and one infant brother, Joseph Roy Keene.
Survivors include daughters, Carla Lester and husband, Jackie and Lisa Hess and husband, Jimmy all of Rowe, Virginia; step-daughter, Melanie Cooper of Hurley; sons, Leslie Keene and wife, Theresa and Phillip Keene and wife, Pam all of Rowe, Gregory Keene and wife, Debra of Cedar Bluff, Corey Cooper and Byron Cooper both of Hurley; sisters, Vada Baldwin and husband, Ned of Honaker and Patty Keen and husband, Harlis of Rowe; brothers, Joseph Keene and wife, Donna of Chilhowie and Dalma Keene and wife, Kathy of Tazewell; brother and sister at heart, J.C. and Carolyn Street of Morganton, North Carolina; former wife and friend, Cutie Keene of Rowe; seven grandchildren, Jeremy Keen, Leann Lester, Johnathan Keene, Zachary Keene, Morgan Keene, Tiffany Keene, Cydney Lester; three great-grandchildren, Tylor Keen, Makayla Keen, and Kailyn Keene; a host of family and friends also survive.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Thursday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Elder Ted Brackett and Rev. Randy Webb officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Pallbearers will be Johnathan Keene, Zachary Keene, Jeremy Keen, Tylor Keen, Morgan Keene, Tiffany Keene, Cydney Lester, Leann Lester, Makayla Keen, Randall Compton, Robbie Keene, Dale Street, J.C. Street, Jonathan Baldwin, and Gerald Compton.
Honorary pallbearers will be brothers-in-law, Jonathan Barrett, Kenita Light, HVMC 5-D ICU Step down employees, and Wexford House 500 Hall employees.
Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6:00 PM, where an evening service will be conducted at 7:00 PM with Rev. Tommy Dye.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.