MARY EMALINE MARSTON KEENAN, age 93, died at the home of her daughter, Jane, in Columbia on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

She was born August 3, 1928 in Maracaibo, Venezuela to Robert and Herma Frey Marston. She lived in Venezuela only a year before her father, chief Geologist with Sun Oil, was reassigned to McAllen, Texas. At age 10, her family moved from South Texas to Washington State then returned to Texas, where she graduated from Highland High School in Dallas.  To further her education, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Southern Methodist University where she met and married her husband of 61 years.

Mary considered her greatest career as being a wife and mother.  She faithfully honored her husband in his career choices, living in Texas, California and in their move to Sikeston in 1970.  Sikeston became her home for the next 45 years where she was a member of the First United Methodist Church.  She was a charter member of the Friday Morning Prayer Group which she helped organize in 1970. This group continues to meet every Friday morning at the homes of its various members in Southeast Missouri. For many years, she was a member of the Christian Women's Club which supported education in recognizing the forces of evil in the world that negatively impact our country.  An active member of the Bootheel Conservative Republicans she was a force to be reckoned with. In recognizing the hunger problem in Southeast Missouri, she joined others in lobbying for legislation which enabled the creation of a local food bank.  When the legislation passed, she played an instrumental role in establishing the Sikeston Food Bank. One perspective of life that remained constant, was her belief that in all times, particularly in the bad times, there was a greater purpose to be served.

She was invited and attended the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan and continued supporting conservative causes.  In 2018, she was honored to be the recipient of the Peter Meyers Award for outstanding service to her country, state, and community.

Above all other involvements, Mary's primary focus was to serve her role in spreading the gospel of Christ at home and afar.  In 1992, through the ministry of Josh McDowell and the Campus Crusades for Christ, she was one of 250 Americans invited to Moscow by the Kremlin after the fall of the USSR to join with 1000 Russians to perform in the first Easter celebration in over 70 years.

On July 21, 1951 she married David C. Keenan who preceded her in death on October 9, 2012.

Surviving are her children, Alan (Debbie) Keenan of Sikeston, Laura Bryant (Denny) Smith of DeLeon Springs, FL and Jane Bevans of Columbia; her grandchildren, Matthew (Shawna) Bevans, Jeremy (Jessica) Bevans, Jonathan (Anna) Keenan, Scott (Sarah) Keenan, Paul Bryant, Angeline (Keith) Carmichael, Mark, (Christin) Bryant, Austin David Bryant, Blake Alan Bryant; 14 great grandchildren; and one sister, Grace Winslow of Dallas, TX.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, Dorothy Iden.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston from 11:30 a.m. until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m.  Rev. Jennifer Moxley and Rev. Mike Wondel, pastors at the First United Methodist Church, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Sikeston. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial Contributions may be given to:  First United Methodist Church Youth Mission Program, P.O. Box 682, Sikeston, Missouri 63801

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com .