Betty Louise Keener, 92, entered into her eternal heavenly home Sunday evening November 19, 2017 at University Hospital Samaritan Medical Center following a lingering illness surrounded by her family.
She was born in Ashland on May 31, 1925 to the late John Charles and Beulah Faye (Cottrell) Dilgard. She was a 1943 graduate of Ashland High School and a 1947 graduate of the Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing. She spent time at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital as a Cadet Nurse for the Navajo people in 1946.
Betty first worked for Dr. John Strait before becoming engaged to and marrying Clayton Harvey Keener on October 3, 1948. She then worked on the family dairy farm with her husband in Orange Township. Betty had a passion for her fruit and vegetable garden. She was known to sell eggs from her chickens on the farm, and flowers at the farmers market when she lived in Hayesville. Betty often looked to help fellow residents in need in a variety of ways. Later after retiring from the farm, Betty returned to her nursing career working in a Nursing Home in Loudonville, the Gruter Foundation in New Pittsburg, and the Ashland County Home.
Betty was a member of the Hayesville United Methodist Church. Betty always found ways to serve and share at her churches. Her family was always an important part of her life. She enjoyed her involvement with the Samaritan Hospital Nurses Alumni Association and the Gloriosa Garden Club. She also earned the distinguished title of “Master Gardner” from Kingwood Center in Mansfield. Her hobbies included tending to her vegetable and flower gardens, sewing, hand embroidering, and doing various arts and crafts.
Betty is survived by her children: Joan Mailloux, David Keener, Carol (Howard) Deibler, Joyce Ritchie, Janet Schneider, and Nancy (Robert) Thorne. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Tim Keener, Ben Keener, Tina Chaffee, Tod Deibler, Sarah McClaffin, Jon Ritchie, Christine Gelley, Elizabeth Yoder, Katherine Griffeth and Emily Miller; 17 great grandchildren; and her siblings: Ruth A. Hall, Charles K. Dilgard, and Richard A. Dilgard.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clayton Harvey Keener, after 42 years of marriage on May 8, 1991; a granddaughter: Beth Ann Keener and two sons-in-law: Fred Mailloux, and Scott Schneider.
Services will be held Monday November 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home with the Rev. Norm Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Ashland County Memorial Park. Friends may call on Sunday, November 26, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren Church, 960 Twp. Rd. 964 Ashland, Ohio 44805, or to the Hayesville United Methodist Church, 44 S. Mechanic St. Hayesville, Ohio 44838.
For those not able to attend, expressions of sympathy may be made to the family by visiting denbowfh.com
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