Mary Barker Keener

Mary Lucette Barker Keener, 80, of North Wilkesboro, died Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Atrium Health-Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. 

The funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, March 23, 2024 at North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church with the Rev. R.C. Griffin, III officiating.  Burial will be in Scenic Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home from 6:00 until 7:30 Friday night. 

Mrs. Keener was born in Norton, VA and raised in Charlotte, NC. She was a member of North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church where she served on the Congregational Care Committee and led Children’s Worship. Mrs. Keener was a retired Biology and Chemistry teacher from West Wilkes High School. Upon her retirement, she enjoyed being more active within her church, tending to her garden, and Friday lunch dates with her fellow retired teacher friends. She also began writing poems as a method to teach scripture lessons during Children’s Worship at her church. An avid fan of the game show Jeopardy, she hardly ever missed an episode. Her most prized role of all was that of grandmother to her five grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip McArthur Keener; her mother, Joyce Crystal Buchanan Davis; her stepfather, William Pettet Davis; a sister, Gracia B. Cross; and a brother, James E. Barker. 

She is survived by one daughter, Courtney K. Dooley and husband, Chris, of Greensboro; two sons, Cameron Keener and wife, Lisa, of Cary and Bucky Keener and wife, Crystal, of North Wilkesboro; and five grandchildren, Olive Keener, Gus Keener, Charlotte Keener, Chloe Keener, and Olivia Keener. 

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Barker Keener, please visit our floral store.