Ray Vernon Keene1,2,3

ID# 19509, (1919 - 1998)
FatherJoseph Hiram Keen4,5 (16 Jun 1886 - 26 Jul 1939)
MotherGertrude Hannah6 (4 Apr 1887 - 24 Aug 1919)

Key Events:

Birth: 9 May 1919, Greenup Co., Kentucky7,8,9
Marriage: Jun 1951, Omaha, Nebraska, Louise Dorothy May Morris (8 Oct 1915 - 3 Dec 1970)10,11,12
Marriage: 7 Jun 1972, El Paso Co., Texas, Juana Torres Nunez (about 1935 - 26 Nov 2021)13
Death: 2 Feb 199814,15
Burial: 9 Feb 1998, Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso Co., Texas16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Ray Vernon Keene was born on 9 May 1919 in Greenup Co., Kentucky.7,8,9
     His mother died on 24 Aug 1919, when Ray was about 3 months old.17
     Ray appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Schultz, Greenup Co., Kentucky, in the household of General Marion Keen and Sarah Jones, his father's parents.18
     Ray's father and grandfather spelled the family name as Keen, and Ray seems to have used that spelling as a young man. But he and most of his siblings adopted the spelling Keene later in life.19,20,21,1
     Ray appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Greenup Co., Kentucky, in the household of his father, Joseph Hiram Keen, and stepmother, Inez V. Hunt.4 He also appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Greenup Co., Kentucky, in the household of his grandparents.22 Ray appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Maloneton, Greenup Co., Kentucky, in the household of his stepmother.23
     He was a farmer in 1940, reporting that year that he had worked 60 hours the last week of March.23 Ray registered for the draft for World War II on 16 Oct 1940, while living at Fullerton, Greenup Co., Kentucky, reporting he was employed as a farmer.1
     Ray drafted into the U.S. Army 11 Jun 1942, at Huntington, Kentucky. He was discharged 20 Dec 1945.24,25
     Ray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 20 May 1949, serving in Korea and Vietnam.26,27,28
     Ray appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Fort Crook, Sarpy Co., Nebraska, enumerated 24 Jul 1950, as a member of the military.29
     Ray married first Louise Dorothy May Morris, daughter of Edgar Lafeyette Morris and Lola L. Knisley, in Jun 1951 in Omaha, Nebraska. She had previously been married to William Edwin Hooton.10,11,12
     Ray and Louise moved to Omaha, Nebraska by 1954, when they were living at 5214½ S. 21st St.30 By 1957 they had moved to El Paso, Texas, and were living at 6343 Airport Rd.31
     He retired from the Air Force 30 Sep 1969, with the rank of master sergeant.32,33,34
     His wife died on 3 Dec 1970 in El Paso, El Paso Co., Texas.35,36
     Ray married second Juana Torres Nunez on 7 Jun 1972 in El Paso Co., Texas.13
     Ray died on 2 Feb 1998 at age 78.14,15 He was buried on 9 Feb 1998 in Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso Co., Texas.16

Children:
     There were no children with Louise Dorothy May Morris

Children:
     Children with Juana Torres Nunez:

Ray and Juana's children are still living.

Citations

  1. [S12468] Ray Vernon Keen, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Kentucky, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947.
  2. [S5497] Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Omaha Area Marriages, record for Ray Vernon Keene and Louise D. M. Hooton, citing cert no. A22043.
  3. [S4854] R. L. Polk & Co.'s City Directory of Greater Omaha, 1954, pg 622, shows name as Ray V. Keene.
  4. [S5489] Joe Keen household, 1930 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky.
  5. [S5487] Joseph H. Keen obituary, Portsmouth Times.
  6. [S1011] "Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-2000," Ancestry.com, record for Ray N Keene, citing vol 44 cert 21893.
  7. [S1011] "Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-2000," Ancestry.com, record for Ray N Keene, citing vol 44 cert 21893, shows date, county, and state.
  8. [S5485] General M. Keen household, 1920 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky, shows age 8/12 and state.
  9. [S12468] Ray Vernon Keen, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Kentucky, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows date, county, and state.
  10. [S5497] Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, Omaha Area Marriages, record for Ray Vernon Keene and Louise D. M. Hooton, citing cert no. A22043, shows month and year.
  11. [S5483] Louise Dorothy May Keene, Certificate of Death, shows her as married, and Ray V. Keene as informant.
  12. [S4854] R. L. Polk & Co.'s City Directory of Greater Omaha, 1954, pg 622, shows Ray V. Keene and wife Louise.
  13. [S1202] "Texas, Marriage Index, 1824-2014," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V Keene and Juana Nunez, citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Marriage Index, 1966-2011.
  14. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V. Keene, Soc. Sec. No. 218-18-5558, shows date and last residence as 79925 El Paso, El Paso, Texas.
  15. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V Keene, shows date.
  16. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V Keene, shows date and cemetery.
  17. [S5495] Gertrude Keen, Certificate of Death.
  18. [S5485] General M. Keen household, 1920 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky.
  19. [S5485] General M. Keen household, 1920 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky, shows name as Ray Keen.
  20. [S5489] Joe Keen household, 1930 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky, shows name as Ray Keen.
  21. [S5490] Inez Keen household, 1940 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky, shows name as Ray V. Keen.
  22. [S5486] General M. Keene household, 1930 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky.
  23. [S5490] Inez Keen household, 1940 U.S. Census, Greenup Co., Kentucky.
  24. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Ray Keene, shows branch, enlistment and release dates.
  25. [S1356] "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V Keene, Service No. 35432830, shows enlistment date, enlistment city and state, and component as Selectees (Enlisted Men) (drafted).
  26. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Ray Keene, shows branch and enlistment date.
  27. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for Ray V Keene, start date, as 28 Sep 1949, service and rank.
  28. [S12470] Ray V. Keene, 1950 U.S. Census, Sarpy Co., Nebraska, shows occupation as X (military).
  29. [S12470] Ray V. Keene, 1950 U.S. Census, Sarpy Co., Nebraska, shows relationship of head of household as 0 (Any other person in a hotel, institution, etc. except inmate), and work prior week as X (military).
  30. [S4854] R. L. Polk & Co.'s City Directory of Greater Omaha, 1954, pg 622.
  31. [S5484] Hudspeth's El Paso City Directory, 1957, pg 418.
  32. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Ray Keene, shows release date.
  33. [S4854] R. L. Polk & Co.'s City Directory of Greater Omaha, 1954, pg 622, shows occupation as USAF.
  34. [S5484] Hudspeth's El Paso City Directory, 1957, pg 418, shows occupation as USAF.
  35. [S5483] Louise Dorothy May Keene, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, and county.
  36. [S5466] Rachel W. Snowdall obituary, Hackett Livingston Funeral Home, shows she predeceased her sister.