Clyne David Keener

He was born February 1, 1931 in Konawa, Oklahoma to Henry Aaron Keener and Johnnie Bonnie Smith-Keener. Clyne grew up in Oklahoma. He met the call and served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1954 aboard the mine sweeper, USS Dextrous. In addition to his many duties, he was the main Engine Operator along with the very popular special duty (to his shipmates) of the Movie Projector Operator. While on leave, he met and married the love of his life, Bennie Mae Epperson from Modesto, CA in 1953. After he discharged from the Navy, he became an Electrician in several different locations but eventually landed in an electric motor shop in Healdsburg, CA where his son David Clyne was born. A few years later, he began working at the Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. After one year in Vallejo, Clyne and his family moved to Yountville, CA in the Napa Valley where his daughter, Cynthia Dawn was born. While living in Yountville, he served as a board member and Deacon at the Redwood Baptist Church. He was a Big Brother for the Napa Chapter Big Brothers Organization and was in the Napa County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, serving from 1967-1979, where he served as Captain for several years. Before he retired from Mare Island, he and his brother-in-law, Bill Epperson started and operated Epperson-Keener Construction Company. After retiring as a sound and vibration engineer from Mare Island in 1988, he began his own handyman business until 1999 when he moved to Ceres. There he worked for several years for the City of Modesto Police as a Parking Enforcement Officer. While in retirement in the Modesto area, for two years he took on a Christmas project of making HUNDREDS of wooden toy cars for the Shoebox Project for less fortunate children around the world. He was a man of many talents. He had a reputation of being able to fix “anything”, had a plethora of jokes readily available to share daily and MANY stories of his life’s adventures which he wrote enough to fill up several binders! In reference to his favorite Hollywood actor, John Wayne, Clyne was the epitome of “True Grit”! He loved The Lord, Jesus, as his Savior, was a loving husband and proud father. He is survived by his son, David Clyne Keener (wife, Cary Hodge-Keener) and daughter, Cynthia Dawn Keener-Moffatt (husband, Kris Moffatt), Grandson, Benjamen Keener (wife, Jennie), Granddaughter, Holly Keener-Dacanay (husband Jesse) and five great grandsons, Tavin Dacanay, Jonathan Keener, Cyrus Dacanay, Jaxon Keener and Bradley Keener. His brother-in-law, Bill Epperson (Leonna) and sister-in-laws, Mary Epperson-Patton and Esther Epperson along with many wonderful cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bennie Mae, three brothers, Ishmael, Henry Jr. and Patrick and brother-in-law, T-Roy Epperson.

His celebration of life will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Anchor Hospice in Solano County.