Marvin Keown (Veteran)

Marvin J. Keown, age 92, of Jefferson City, passed away Saturday, July 2, 2011, peacefully at his home. He was born April 20, 1919, at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City, the son of Bartholomew Walter Keown and Rose Anna (nee Nacy) Keown. He was a graduate of St. Peter's High School and worked for Modern Litho Print Company of Jefferson City for 45 years, doing work in nearly every aspect of the printing trade. Marvin served in the United States Army during World War II with the rank of Tech Sergeant in the Army Headquarters, Headquarters Company, and served on bases from the Pacific to the Atlantic. On June 26, 1945, Marvin was united in marriage in Jefferson City to Ruth Doty Keown of Mountain Grove, who preceded him in death on September 10, 1975. The young couple settled in Jefferson City after the war. After the death of his first wife he married Ruth (nee Yancy) Miller of Fulton on July 19, 1986. Marvin was a member of the Optimist Club, American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus, C.O.B. as a boy, and was involved in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts while his children were young. He was a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Joseph where he served as an usher at 9:30 Sunday Mass for many years. He loved to dance and was known far and wide to be the best dancer in Jefferson City. In addition, he was an avid rose gardener and well known woodworker, and loved to listen to his music. He is survived by two children: Jewel Ann (Annie) Ritter and husband Bruce of St. Louis, and James M. (Jim) Keown and wife Chris of Columbia; three grandchildren: James C. (Jimmy) Keown of Las Vegas, Nevada, Benjamin J. Keown and Nathanial T. Keown of Columbia; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and his second wife Ruth (nee Yancy) Keown, all of whom will greatly miss his positive attitude, love for having a great time, fun nature, and philosophy of never meeting a person he didn't like. Besides his wife, Ruth Doty Keown on September 10, 1975, Marvin was preceded in death by three sisters, Marian Frickie on January 20, 1996, Rose Ann Winkelmann on April 20, 2008, Dorothy B. Hager on May 29, 2011; and two brothers, Taylor Keown on May 20, 1933, and James T. (Bus) Keown on May 19, 2011. He is the last of the Keown family that lived in the family home at 725 West High Street since 1907. Friends will be received from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 5 at the Houser-Millard Funeral Home, where a rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with Father Nicholas Reid officiating. Internment with full military honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Holding fast to his Scotch-Irish heritage, he will be honored with a bag piper playing the traditional Irish Tunes he loved so well. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Helias Foundation. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, (573)636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online at millardfamilychapels.com