Joyce C. Keene

Joyce Christine Keene, 86, of Hot Springs, formerly of Fordyce, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Oct. 23, 2016. She was born Oct. 5, 1930, in New Edinburg, to the late Frank James Strong and Alice Lucille Garlington Strong. She was a housewife, a Christian and a member of Winans Missionary Baptist Church of Hot Springs. She will be remembered as a woman who loved God and her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Thomas Keene; two brothers, Franklin Strong and John Edward Strong; a sister-inlaw, Ruth McAlister; and her parents, Frank and Lucille Strong.

She is survived by a son, Gary (Betty) Keene, of Hot Springs; a daughter, Beverly (Larry) Childers, of Litchfield, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Betty Smith Strong, of Fordyce; a brother-in-law, Glen McAlister, of Fordyce; four grandchildren, Gary Keene Jr. (Marie) and David Slay (Heather), of Hot Springs, and Cindy Mix (James) and Cathy Childers, of Litchfield, Ill.; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. with Bobby Thornton officiating. Burial will follow at Wright Cemetery at Bleeker.

Pallbearers are Glen Strong Sr., Glen Strong Jr., Gene Strong, Max Garlington, Ronnie Garlington, Donny Ford, Charles Lee Ford and Mike Hornaday.

Honorary pallbearers are employees of the Pines Nursing Center, members of Winans Missionary Baptist Church and Arkansas Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be designated to Winans Missionary Baptist Church, 222 Golf Links Road, Hot Springs, AR 71901.

Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit http://www.bentonfuneralhome.net.