TALLULAH, La. — Memorial services for C.L. Keene, age 75, were held Saturday, July 5, 2014, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Tallulah with Father Ron Mathews officiated.  Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

C. L. was born on Feb. 1, 1939, and died on July 3, 2014, at The Olive Branch Senior Care Center in Tallulah where he had resided since Oct. 2012. A lifelong resident of Tallulah, C.L. was graduated from Tallulah High School. He obtained a bachelor of agribusiness from Southern State College in Magnolia, Ark.

He served in the U.S. Navy, where he was a submarine sonar technician. His career in law enforcement included service with the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, trooper with Louisiana State Police, probation and parole officer with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, and regional administrator of Child Support Enforcement.

Following his official retirement, C.L. made volunteering a second career as he worked at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge as the coordinator of volunteers and was active in 4-H activities at the parish, region, state, and Southeast region levels.

A member of Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, he served as district vice president, chairman of the board of vice presidents, and director of youth activities. He created the “first in the U.S.” Junior Cattlemen Association, which is celebrating its 27^th anniversary this year. For his efforts in this area, on the organization’s 25^th anniversary, the AgExpo Junior Livestock Show was dedicated to him as was the 2012 Northeast Louisiana Livestock Show. Because of his extensive work in 4-H, he was inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame in 2012.

C.L. is survived by his wife of 53 ½ years, Ann, who he always introduced as his “first wife;” his three children, MaryKathryn Book (Nap) of Tallulah, C.W. Keene (Alyce) of Tallulah, and Meg Thomas (Paul) of Bossier City, La.; grandchildren, Chelsea Keene, Katie Book and AnnaBeth Book, all of Tallulah, and Summer Thomas Robin, Michael Thomas, John Thomas and Lawton Thomas, all of Bossier City; and a great-grandchild, Evie Book of Tallulah. C.L.’s surviving siblings are Delores Katzenmeyer (Bill) of Denham Springs, La., Michael Keene (Marcie) of Abilene, Texas, and Thomas P. Keene (Janice) of Baton Rouge, La.

Predeceasing C.L. were his grandmother, with whom he lived as a child, Elizabeth Westmoreland; grandfather, Ludie Westmoreland; mother, Kathryn W. Brown; father, Clyde Jack Keene; sister, LouAnna B. Gardner; and brother, William Keene; and his aunt, Betty W. Williamson, her husband, Cordes, and their daughter, Ginny W. Brown, who were a large part of his life.

Special thanks for their incredible care to the staff and medical professionals at The Olive Branch Senior Care Center, Tallulah.  A very special thank you to Judy Beard for her countless hours of care and dedication to C.L. over the last five years.

Memorials can be made to Madison 4-H Foundation, 114 Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA 71282, St. Edward Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1308, Tallulah, LA or a charity of choice.