William Brown Keener Sr.

William “Bill” Brown Keener Sr., age 94, of 314 Keener Street, Cary, NC, died Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Kerner Ridge Assisted Living. He was the eldest son of the late Claude H. Keener and Lena Mae Hartsell.

Bill was a graduate of Lincolnton, NC High School, Brevard College and North Carolina State College (now University). He entered the United States Army in 1942 and was honorably discharged after three years and four months of service.

Upon graduation from North Carolina State College in 1949, Bill became a registered architect. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. His first job as an architect was in the firm of Marion Ham, architect in Durham, NC. A number of years later, the firm became Keener and Williams, P.A. Architects with Bill as its President for many years. In 1985 the firm was merged with Sears, Hackney, Inc. of Durham, NC and became Sears, Hackney, Keener and Williams, Inc. in Cary, NC. Bill retired in 1998 to become more active in non-business affairs.

Bill has been a member of the Cary First United Methodist Church since 1946, where he and his wife Frances have enjoyed serving in a number of different roles over the years. Keener & Williams firm did many architectural design improvements for the church over 4 decades.

In September 1956 the Cary Lions Club was chartered and Bill became a Charter Member. He had a perfect attendance record and has held most of the club’s elected offices including serving as president three times. His awards include Melvin Jones Fellow, Jack Stickley Fellow, a founder in the William L. Woodard “Partner-In-Service” Program, 100% President, Lion of the Year, and others. In the 1950’s Bill coached Lions Club Little League baseball and football and throughout his tenure has served on and chaired numerous committees and projects. One of his last requests is for continued support for all Lion’s efforts to aid and help the sight and hearing impaired.

Bill was a devoted Cary High School Band Booster having served the band in many areas including master of ceremonies for stage band and other appearances, but he probably will be best remembered as the master of ceremonies and color commentator for the annual Cary Band Day Parade and field competition. He served this position for thirty-one years, 1958 – 1989 and became known as “The Voice of Band Day.”

A devoted family man, Bill is survived by his son William B. Keener, Jr. "Buck" and his daughter in law, Janet; grandchildren Ashley Keener Trosman (husband, Lukas) of Wilmington NC; Garrett Keener of Winston-Salem and great-grandchildren Scarlett and Mia.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, February 1, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Cary. There will be a private burial at Hillcrest Cemetery following the service.

www.brownwynnecary.com.