Laverna Keeney
Laverna G. Keeney was at her home in Bourbon, Missouri, surrounded by family members when she passed into the arms of Jesus on October 13, 2022, just six days shy of her 102nd birthday.
Laverna’s roots go deep among early Crawford County families. Until her death, she may have been the oldest living descendant of Crawford County families Brown, Harman, Hamlin. She was born October 19, 1920, to Amos Earl and Anna Mary (Hamlin) Brown in Marland, Oklahoma, during a brief family sojourn there. Her family returned to Crawford County’s Forest Hill community in 1924 and then moved to Bourbon in 1933 to access Bourbon’s four-year high school. Laverna participated in BHS’s first May Day Queen Court in 1936. She met Clyde E. Keeney at BHS, they married on April 8, 1939, and enjoyed nearly seventy-two years of marriage until his passing in 2011.
To this union five children were born: The late Neil Keeney (Jan, now of Laguna Woods, CA) and four who survive her: Ron Keeney (the late Mary Ann) of Raleigh, NC; Jerry Keeney (Nancy) of St. Louis, MO; Sonja Moore (Ted) of Bourbon, MO; Pam Seide (Rick) of Rolling Hills Estates, CA.
Laverna is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Angie Keeney, St Louis, MO; Doug Keeney, Portland, OR: Susie Edwards (Rommel), Raleigh, NC; Karen Agama (Cesar), Raleigh, NC; Kristen Hernandez (Julio), Sanford, NC; Tim Keeney (Melanie), St Louis, MO; Eric Keeney (Kerry), St Louis, MO; Tricia Beckett (Marty), Bourbon, MO; Kenny Moore (Brandee), Windsor, CO; Jason Moore (Tiffany), Wentzville, MO; Chris Seide (Maegan), Ladera Ranch, CA; Jon Seide (Lauren), Corona del Mar, CA; 25 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Laverna was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Anna Brown, husband Clyde E. Keeney; son, Neil Keeney; two brothers: Gerald Brown (the late Freda) and Maurice Brown (the late Rosemary); a sister, Maxine Keeney (the late Orville); and daughter-in-law Mary Ann Keeney.
Laverna’s greatest joy was her family. She and Clyde were especially blessed as they raised their five children alongside her sister Maxine and Clyde’s brother Orville’s five children; making these ten children, similar in age order, unusually close “double first cousins.” She loved hosting family meals and gatherings for whoever could come, family and beyond. She could squeeze an impressive number of people around her kitchen table. For years, from large vegetable gardens and a few fruit trees, Laverna canned and froze dozens of jars and bags of jams and jellies, fruits and vegetables. She also loved working in their rose garden and other flower beds.
Next to Laverna’s family, her church and church family were of immense importance to her. The church’s worldwide vision for mission expanded her horizons, as she devoted herself to supporting the world-healing work of Christian missions, especially ‘foreign missions,’ as it was once known. Laverna was Calvary’s sole surviving Charter Member, serving Christ and the church faithfully in various capacities from its founding in 1936. She was willing and gracious hostess to visiting preachers, missionaries, and evangelists, welcoming them to the family table for a meal and often a night or two of lodging (in a home with one bathroom and seven family members). These were always interesting and often intriguing personalities who naturally left distinctive impressions. Potentially formative seeds of her children’s future vocations? Maybe this was her unspoken intention.
Laverna continued her distinctive mission of personal encouragement until her dying day: Countless covered dishes, cakes, and pies carried in to ill and bereaved fellow church members; numberless cards, notes, and phone calls, all of this gradually reduced by limitations of age and final illness to phone calls to family and friends and to sincere words of interest and concern offered gratefully to all those she engaged by phone and those who showed up at her bedside.
Laverna’s five children attended few services at Calvary that did not see their mom at the piano accompanying congregational singing, while their dad was at the podium as song leader. Laverna taught Sunday School until age 95 and for many years led in the Women’s Missionary Union, the mission education groups for children and youth, and more. Many of those she influenced at Calvary in these ways now help to populate the ministries of multiple churches across the country.
Laverna’s first job at sixteen was at the Bourbon Hotel as ‘waitress’ and ‘housemaid,’ opening a wider window on the world as she served the travelers who came and went. She spent the rest of her working life of forty-plus years at Paramount Cap Co., where she had a positive impact on many. One of the company’s early employees, she rose to the position of ‘floor lady’ supervising the ‘sewing room.’
Laverna also served her wider community – most recently at the Bourbon Christian Thrift Shop and Food Pantry, which began at Calvary before her retirement at Paramount in 1982. Her service continued in “the Shop’s” location downtown until age 98. Visiting with co-workers and assisting shoppers gave her much joy. While her children were in school, she was active in the Mother’s Club (now the Parents and Teachers Organization), holding various positions, including president.
On the threshold of 102 years, Laverna had lived through the historical challenges of The Great Depression and World War II, as well as periods of utterly remarkable economic, industrial, and technological advance, significant social and cultural change marked by both hopeful innovation and disquieting moral ambiguity. In the midst of it all, she held to her faith, a steady witness to stubborn integrity whether in good fortune or ill, in triumph or tragedy – ever quiet and unassuming, even self-effacing, yet resolute in her faith that “the Lord will take care of us.” And, He has.
For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, PO Box 775, Bourbon, MO 65441, or to the WMU Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge Dr., Birmingham, AL 35242.
Services were held at Calvary Baptist Church, Bourbon, MO, on Sat., Oct. 22, 2022, Pastor John Hanson officiating, with Laverna’s grandson Rev. Jason Moore and son Rev. Jerry Keeney assisting. Interment followed at Hill Cemetery, Bourbon.
All arrangements are under the care of Eaton Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Sullivan.