Dr. Rev. LeRoy M. Keeney, 83, of St. Albans, died at home on Wednesday, June 9, 2004, after a long illness.
He was retired as pastor from the Highlawn Baptist Church, having served from 1949 unti11986. Following his retirement, Rev. Keeney served as interim minister for The First Baptist Church of Dunbar, the Main Street Baptist Church of Point Pleasant and at Calvary Baptist Church in Charleston.
He graduated from Charleston High School, attended Alderson Broaddus College, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Moms Harvey College in 1943. In 1946 he graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Alderson Broaddus College in 1973 and served as a member of its Board of Trustees for over 10 years.
Rev. Keeney served as president of the West Virginia Baptist Convention in 1965, its centennial year. For over 30 years he was a member of the West Virginia Baptist Executive Board. He served over 25 years as president of the West Virginia Baptist Education Society, which grants 50 scholarships annually to students preparing to enter the ministry. Rev. Keeney was a founder of the St. Albans Ministerial Association and served as its president. He was a member of the St. Albans Rotary Club and also served as its president. He was chairman of the first committee to develop the Parchment Valley Conference Center. For many years he was a volunteer chaplain at Thomas Memorial Hospital.
Rev. Keeney is survived by his wife of 62 years, Theresa Knapp Keeney; daughter, Rebecca Palmer and her husband, John, of Charleston; son, Stanley Keeney and his wife Martha, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; beloved grandchildren Morgan Griffith and her husband, Dave, of Charleston; Campbell Palmer and his wife, Suzanne, of Falls Church, Virginia; Mary Beth Keeney and her fiance Chad Gunerra, and Brian Keeney of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; and great grandchildren Amanda Jane and Michael Griffith, and Jack Palmer. His last surviving sister is Mrs. Wirt (Frankie) Harmon of Paris, Tennessee.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 12, 2004 at the Highlawn Baptist Church, 2304 Jefferson Avenue, St. Albans with the Rev. Joe Hyde and Rev. Cyril Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may call from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM Friday at the church.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Virginia Baptist Education Society, c/o Dr. Lawrence Hoptry, Corresponding Secretary, PO Box 248, Nitro, West Virginia 25143, or to the Highlawn Baptist Church, 2304 Jefferson Avenue, St. Albans, West Virginia 25177. The family expresses thanks to Hospice for its care of Rev. Keeney.
Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, is in care of the arrangements.
