Arthur R. Keene Jr.
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Arthur R. "Ross" Keene, Jr., 70, of Du Quoin, passed away at 5:37 a.m., Sunday, April 22, 2012 at his home.
Ross had worked at Old Ben 21 Coal Mine for 17 years, 10 years at Marshall Browning Hospital and eight years at Chester Mental Health as a security therapy aide. Ross loved the outdoors and his man cave. He also enjoyed gardening, woodworking, camping and bonfires. He dearly loved his dog, Butchie.
He was a member at the Oak Grove Baptist Church at Pinckneyville and a member of the UMW of A and the AFSCME Union. He was a U.S. Army Veteran having served for three years during the Viet Nam War.
He was born Oct. 22, 1941 at Du Quoin, Ill. the son of Arthur R. and Mabel Ruth (Stickles) Keene, Sr.
Ross married Rose Yearion on Nov. 27, 1961 at French Town Township, Mich. and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin two daughters- Michelle Dudek and husband Kevin of Tamaroa, Rose Marie Miller and fiance Michael Loos of Pinckneyville, granddaughter- Ashley Miller and fiance Andrew Jerrod Greer of Pinckneyville, sister-in-law- Karen Dujsik, two nieces, one nephew, several great nieces and nephews and cousins, special friends- Linda and John Stoner, Jerry Bierman and Kenny and Cecilia Dudek.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son- Peter Francis Keene.
Funeral services were at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Bro. Rob Mathis officiating.
Friends called from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial was in the Old Du Quoin Cemetery at Du Quoin.
Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin VFW, American Legion and Army National Guard.
In lieu of flowers friends may make memorials to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.