William “Bud” Keith Keene, 76, died May 10, 2014, at LifePath Hospice House, Sun City, ending his courageous 16-month battle with cancer.
Mr. Keene was born Nov. 29, 1937, in Plant City, to Andrew Joseph Keene and Mildred Alene Cox Keene. He was youngest of two boys.
He was raised from age 4 by his mother, Mildred Cone, and stepfather, C. W. Cone, in the Midway community, north of Plant City. He learned a strong work ethic on the 14,000-acre Cone Ranch while working horses and cattle, raising and loading melons on train cars, tending orange groves, etc.
He and friends put on their own rodeos in an arena north of Plant City, where he rode the bulls. He enjoyed visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles, Cox and Keene cousins, and many friends in the area. He was specially close to his aunt and uncle, J. D. Cox and Lois Bush Cox.
Mr. Keene attended Plant City schools and Riverside Military Academy, in Georgia and Florida. He served four years in the U. S. Air Force, stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah.
In his adult years, his motivation and skills helped him achieve success in several business ventures, including cattle, orange groves, farming and heavy equipment. He was an officer and part owner of the Briarwood Mobile Home Park. He owned Bud Keene Equipment Rental Inc., Plant City. He also owned Bud Keene Crane Rental Inc., Mulberry, with his son, Kip Keene.
In October 1952, at age 14, he met Mary LaVerne Lett, 13, at the Springhead School Halloween Carnival. After dating four years, they were married Dec. 1, 1956, and had 57 happy years of marriage and working together. He also enjoyed many hours bass fishing at his home on Lake Nellie, south of Clermont, and was especially proud of the 14-pound bass he caught. Above all else, he valued and loved his wife and family.
He was predeceased by his parents, Mildred Cone, in 1963, and C. W. Cone, in 2003; brother, Jerry D. “Don” Keene, in 2001; and his in-laws, to whom he was devoted, Mary Belle Maddox Lett, in 1986, and Fletcher King Lett, in 1991.
He is survived by his wife, Mary LaVerne Keene; three sons, Jerry Keith Keene (Lisa), Fletcher Carter Keene (Rhonda) and William Kipling Keene (Stephanie); five grandchildren, Abbie Usko (Matthew), Amy Uzzardo (Vinny), Amanda Keene (Mike Farrow), Samantha Keene and Nathan Keene; eight great-grandchildren, Ben and Zac Usko, Caleb and Elena Farrow, Nolan Ryder, Madelyn and Alessandra Uzzardo, and Bentley Keene; sister-in-law, Barbara Keene Wallace; and many other relatives and friends.
A public visitation was May 14, at Haught Funeral Home, Plant City. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 15, at Springhead Cemetery, corner of County Line and Medulla roads.
Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.