Mysie Keene

Mysie S. Keene, 94, of Jackson passed away Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, where she resided the last three months.

She was born Dec. 16, 1918, in Lixville, Mo., to Louis and Emma Conrad Statler. She and Francis E. Keene were married Sept. 8, 1944, in Hernando, Miss.

Francis was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, which took them overseas to Scotland. In 1953, they returned to Jackson. They were married 31 years when Francis passed away Oct. 27, 1975.

Mysie worked for many years as a local commercial real estate agent and was a longtime member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson.

She was dedicated to the betterment of Southeast Missouri. She served as president of the former Jackson Community Betterment Association from 1965 to 1969; was the first female member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, serving as president in 1983; was president from 1973 to 1978 of the Jackson Park Board, where she was instrumental in acquiring the land tract where the current city swimming pool is located; was former president of the Jackson Industrial Development Co.; was former commissioner of Southeast Missouri Port Authority, serving as chairwoman from 1993 to 1994; and served on the Governor's Private Industry Council from 1977 to 1991.

She was the 1984 recipient of the R.A. Fulenwider Award and the 2001 recipient of the Jackson Heritage Award.

Loving survivors include a daughter, Kimberley (Steven) Bollinger and their son, Ross, of Granger, Ind.; and a sister-in-law, Shirley (the late Hershel) Statler of Jackson.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

A private graveside service will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Jackson Park Foundation Fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.