Obituary of Harry Eward Keener

Gentleman Farmer, Harry Keener age 85 of Charlotte, North Carolina was found shot to death by a jealous husband in his apartment on January 16, 2024. This was how he had always joked that he wanted to go. He actually passed unexpectedly at his apartment on Tuesday afternoon.

His parents, Selma and Laura Keener, sister Alice Sisk and high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Wanda Spires Keener were all there to greet him at the pearly gates. I just hope they were punctual as Harry was always early.

He graduated from Greenback High School and Hiwassee College. He was a Sergeant in the Air Force National Guard for four years and a true patriot. He spent 36 years working for Otis Elevator Company, which had its ups and downs, but gave him fond memories of living in Oklahoma, Texas, and South Carolina.

Harry said he always wanted to be a Gentleman Farmer when he retired and did just that in 1996. He and Wanda moved back home to Tennessee and built their dream home where he loved tending to his large garden and riding his tractor “Old Blue.”

He grew up a member of Oakland United Methodist Church in Greenback and was a devout Christian. He served in the church as a Sunday school teacher, layperson and even started a bus ministry to bring children to church. He was a volunteer at The Billy Graham Library and The Carolinas Aviation Museum.

He was a huge fan of the Vols and the Braves. He loved airplanes, Cracker Barrel, trains, cornbread in his milk, vintage cars, Nascar, The Andy Griffith Show, George Jones, Smokey and the Bandit and Christmas Vacation. He spoke of his first car often, a 1949 Ford Business Coupe and still enjoyed working on cars if given the chance. He could fix or build anything, but most of all he really loved making people laugh.

His passing will leave an enormous void in the lives of his daughter, Vicki Hollis and son-in-law Andrew, granddaughters Reagan and Andie Hollis of Charlotte and his beloved cat Tux, but he will forever be in our hearts.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 10am-11am at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, followed by a service at 11am in the chapel. On Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 12pm there will be a service at Oakland United Methodist Church in the sanctuary, 234 Trigonia Road, Greenback, TN 37742.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203.

Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Harry’s favorite charities:

https://foundryministries.com/donate-today/give-financially/

or https://billygrahamlibrary.org/donate/.

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