Thomas L Keene

Thomas “Tommy” L. Keene, 77, of Dowagiac, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Thursday, June 9, 2016 at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St, Dowagiac, with Reverend Larry Brewer  officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.  Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday June 8, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 1911 W. Centre Ave, Ste 1, Portage, MI 49024. Those wishing to sign Tommy’s online guestbook may do so at www.clarkch.com. Tommy was born to Donald & Annabelle (Rife) Keene on March 4, 1939 in Dowagiac. On January 21, 1956 he married the former Patricia Light in Cassopolis, Michigan. Tommy owned and operated Keene’s Salvage Yard and later Keene’s Auto Body Shop for more than 45 years. He enjoyed watching his favorite Nascar driver, Jeff Gordon #24, on Sunday afternoons. Tommy loved to go deer hunting, mushroom hunting and since retirement vacationed in Florida every year. He will be greatly missed by those who called him friend, but more by those who called him family. Tommy leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 60 years, Patricia; his children, Diana”Candy” (Virgil) Lovelace, Judith Keene, Sue Keene and Steve (Kathleen) Keene all of Dowagiac; ten grandchildren, Katina, Scotty, Shannon, Michelle, Jessica, Kristy, Bobby, Jason, Thomas and Timothy; five great-grandchildren, Kassidy, Kanyon, Billy, Savannah and Cylis; two brothers, Ronald (Mabel) Keene of Dowagiac and Dennis (Judy) Rice of Ozark, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Beverly Luthringer; and son, Donald Keene.