Eilleen Murphy Kean

Eilleen Washington Murphy Kean died peacefully on May 23, 2008, at 5:30 a.m. at St. James Place. She was 89, born in Pine Bluff, Ark., on Feb. 22, 1919. She spent her childhood in Pine Bluff and nearby at Fairfield Plantation. After the Great Flood of 1927, the death of her father, and the Great Depression, her mother moved the family to Baton Rouge so the Murphy children could receive their education at LSU. While attending Baton Rouge High School, she met Gordon Kean and later married him after they both graduated from LSU. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen K. Meares and her husband, Bill, of Alexandria, Va., Frances K. Hackler, Eilleen K. Jones, of Baton Rouge, and Colleen K. Lockwood and her husband, Julian, of Austin, Texas; and sons, Richard Kean and his wife, Tereza, of Baton Rouge, and Breck and his wife, LeeAnn, of Atlanta; grandchildren, Shawn Meares Leake, Scott Meares, Chris Jones, Katie Jones Goodlife, Gordon Jones, Kelly Lockwood Baker, Matt Lockwood, Chauvin Kean, Camille Kean and Trenton Kean; eight great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Gordon Kean Jr.; her parents, Clifton Breckinridge Murphy and Kathleen Conley Murphy; sisters, Frances Murphy and Kathleen Murphy Abernathy, Ruth Murphy Wilkinson; and a brother, Solon Washington Murphy. She devoted her life to her husband, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and giving of herself unselfishly to the community. She served for many years at St. Aloysius Church, where she was a lector and participated in various committees within the school and church. She was a member of Chi Omega fraternity and the Junior League of Baton Rouge. She was honored as Volunteer Activist in 1977, and received the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction Award in 1998. She also received Where Service Matters 2000 Honoree, Volunteer Baton Rouge, the Service Award from the Friends of the LSU Library in 1985 and the Rosalind McKenzie Award in 1993. They presented her with the Meritorious Service to the University Award in 1993. She helped revive the Friends of the LSU Library in 1974, and led the Annual LSU Book Bazaar to raise funds for the rare-book collection. She helped organize the Anglo-American Art Museum and served on the board and as president for many years. She served as president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge. She served many other organizations, including Family Counseling Service, Baton Rouge Symphony Association, Woman's Club, Baton Rouge Bar Association, United Way, Louisiana Arts and Science Center, Volunteers of America, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Woman's Auxillary, YWCO, YWCA, Foundation for Historical Louisiana and the Speech and Hearing Foundation. Special thanks to her devoted friend and assistant, Thelma Carter, and caregivers Charlotte Watson, Ethel Germany and Bridget Cotton. Thanks also to Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge. Visiting at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Ave., Baton Rouge, on Tuesday, May 27, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LSU Foundation, Friends of the LSU Library, 295 Middleton, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3300, St. Aloysius Catholic Church Capital Campaign, 2025 Stuart Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, 406 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, LA, or Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge.