Dr. James Howard Keene

James Howard Keene, 90, of Jonesboro passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. He was born to the late William Clarence and Vergie Alice Keene in Epps, LA on May 8, 1930. Howard had resided in Jonesboro since 1964 and was a longtime member of Walnut Street Baptist Church.

Howard grew up in Eudora, AR. Upon his mother’s death at age 14, he was raised by his sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Thomas Dixon. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korea Conflict. Afterwards, he completed his Bachelors of Science at the University of Arkansas and went on to earn his Masters of Science and a PhD from Louisiana State University.

Howard became a professor in the Department of Agricultural Science at Arkansas State University where he taught until he retired in 1993. During his 29 years of teaching, he was known as a passionate advisor to his students, encouraging them in their pursuits of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine careers. He was lovingly referred to as “Doc Keene” and kept in touch with many of his students.

Aside from teaching, Howard’s interests included: college sports (especially ASU and LSU teams), reading Western novels, Quail Hunting, fishing, gardening, and eating fried catfish with his friends and family.

In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Gerrilyn Keene; his brother and sister-in-law, Cecil and Betty Jo Keene; and brother-in-law, Thomas Dixon.

Howard is survived by two sons, James W. Keene of Stephenville, TX and Keith (Martha) Keene of Ransom Canyon, TX; daughter, Sherri (Bradley) Baskette of Pennsville, NJ; daughter-in-law, Sherri W. Keene of Stephenville, TX.; two sisters, Louise Dixon of Eudora, AR, and Marie (Jack) Burgen of Athens, AL; five grandchildren, Rudy, Beth, Jillian, Jamie, James W.; and one great-granddaughter, Lily.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers family requests that Scholarship donations to the General Agriculture Scholarship fund (account #230054) can be made payable to the:

ASU System Foundation
PO Box 1990
State University, AR 72467

Memo: In Memory of Dr. Keene