Obituary of Bootsie Marie Keener

Obituary Bootsie (Beulah) Russell Keener Bootsie (Beulah) Russell Keener passed away May 13, 2022, at the age of 97. She was born January 24, 1925, in Watrous, New Mexico, to Oscar Willis Russell and Veva Corrine Gibson Russell. She was the second of their seven children. She met the love of her life, Logan Keener, when his family bought a neighboring ranch outside of Clayton, New Mexico. She was in the 3rd grade, and he was in the 6th grade. She graduated from Clayton High School in May 1942. She and Logan married in South Mills, North Carolina, on December 12, 1942, and settled in Norfolk, Virginia, where he was stationed in the Navy during WWII. Their oldest son, Russell Lee was born in Norfolk, but when Logan was shipped overseas, Bootsie and Russ moved back home to Clayton so she could help her parents run their boarding house until the war was over. Bootsie and Logan had 4 children: Russell Lee, Richard (Dick) Erwin, Randall (Randy) Martin, and Deniece Marie. Bootsie became a master of logistics when Logan’s job with Colorado Interstate Gas Company required frequent household moves. She would get everyone packed up, moved out, settled in, and sitting down in the new school desk and church pew, with military precision. They moved “up and down the pipeline” to: Clayton, New Mexico, Dalhart, Texas, Laramie and Rawlins, Wyoming, Beaver and Boise City, Oklahoma, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Fritch, Texas. She and Logan were fixer-uppers before fixer-uppers were cool. They would improve or remodel every house they bought—just in time to sell it and move again. Bootsie and Logan finally settled in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1981, where they stayed the rest of their lives. They were married 48 years when Logan died in 1991. Bootsie was mostly a stay-at-home mom, but worked at the Atomic Energy Commission after WWII, and had various bookkeeping jobs throughout the years. She volunteered extensively in church. She and her friend Electa Armstrong held church services for Alzheimer’s patients at New Mercer Commons where they received a certificate of appreciation for their many years of service. She attended what is now City Park Church for 41 years. Bootsie enjoyed nothing more than “hanging out with her church buddies” and spending time with her large extended family. She was also an avid Colorado Rockies and Denver Nuggets fan. She loved her ball games and when she moved into assisted living, she had to have a sports package for her television. She was preceded in death by her baby brother Donald Dean, parents Oscar and Veva Russell, brother Tom Russell, husband Logan, brother Oscar Russell, Jr., sister Viola Fisher, and brother Larry Russell. She is survived by one brother, Ted Russell, son Russell Keener of Evergreen, Colorado, son Dick (Miriam) Keener of Cedar City, Utah, son Randy (Glorianna) Keener of Nunn, Colorado, and daughter Deniece (Kevin) Clarke of Fort Collins, Colorado. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held at City Park Church, 1725 W. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 4, 2022, at 10:30 am. A light luncheon will be served in the reception hall following the service. If you would like to wear Colorado Rockies or Denver Nuggets attire to the service, you are welcome to. She would love that. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to City Park Church. Services Celebration of Life Saturday June 4, 2022 10:30 AM City Park Church 1725 West Mulberry Fort Collins, CO 80521