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Dorothy L. Keenan 1930-2020
obits_vld_Keenan, Dorothy L. - Obit.jpg
Dorothy L. Keenan 1930-2020

Great Bend resident Dorothy Louise “Dotty” Keenan left this earth to return Home on Feb. 13, 2020 in Great Bend. Dotty was born Nov. 10, 1930, at Muskogee, Okla., the daughter of Cecil Marion and Stella M. “Jackie” (Lackey) Burnette.  She graduated from Great Bend High School. Following high school graduation, she worked as an oilfield secretary in Wichita and Great Bend.  On Sept. 10, 1961, Dotty married Robert P. Keenan in Nowata, Okla. He died Oct. 25, 2008. After spending several years at home with her young sons and accompanying Bob to Topeka while he served in the Kansas House of Representatives, Dotty entered into a partnership to open Gunn’s Gallery of Brides.  In addition to her business, Dotty served on the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church; was a long-time member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, where she held a variety of local, district, and state offices, including state president in 1974-75; she was a long-time member and served as president of both the Barton County Historical Society and Golden Belt Community Concert Association; was chairman of the Park West Townhome Association and served on the Shafer Gallery Advisory Board.

Survivors include three sons, Robert P. “Rick” Keenan II and wife Angelica of Mazatlan, Mexico, Gregory Cecil Keenan of Great Bend, and Rodney Russell Keenan and partner Philip Hewat-Jaboor of New York, N.Y.; one daughter, Alison K. (Morrison) and husband Rod Harrington of Olathe, Kan.; seven grandchildren, Ashley Keenan, Lucas Keenan, Jacob Keenan, Sara Keenan-Davis, Abbey Harrington, Hanna Harrington and Emma Harrington; four great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Judy Burnette, Dortha Keenan, Georgiann Bauer and Cecile Folkerts; two brothers-in-law, Terrance Keenan and wife Gloria and Dennis Keenan and wife Eileen; daughters of the heart, Lisa Baum and Debbie Weishaar; as well as a host of other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; one brother, James C. Burnette; and her special dog, Joey.

A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2020, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Great Bend. The Reverend Teresa Lahar will officiate. Private family inurnment will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials have been established with St. John’s Episcopal Church, Barton County Historical Society or Golden Belt Community Concert Association Endowment, in care of Charter Funerals, Great Bend, Kansas.  Online condolences may be left for the family and a complete obituary may be viewed at http://www.charterfunerals.com/locations/great-bend.php.


Funeral arrangements provided by

Charter Funerals

2115 Washington St.

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 16, 2020