Obituary of Wayne William Keener

Cherokee Dateline: Wayne W. Keener, 67, of the Birdtown Community went home to be with the Lord Sunday, February 9, 2014 in a Buncombe County Hospital. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Thomas Wayne and Mary Lambert Keener. He was a faithful member and deacon of Sawmill Hill Baptist Church. He was a retired U.S. Army Veteran having served in Vietnam. He was a life long member of the Bryson City VFW Post #9281 where he served on the Honor Guard and Quarter Master. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Clyde and Gilbert Smith, and Robert Keener. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Linda Southards Keener; one son Michael Keener; two grandchildren, Johnny Woodard and Miranda Nations; three sisters Ruth Hyatt, Nancy Forrester, Carolyn Junaluska; five brothers David, Tom, Troy, Johnny, and Richard, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday in the Chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. Revs. Jimmy Lambert, Brad Burns, and Gerald McGaha will officiate with burial in Sawmill Hill Cemetery, with graveside rites conducted by the Bryson City VFW Post #9281. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9:00 PM Friday at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Lewis Rathbun Center at 121 Sherwood Rd. Asheville, NC 28803