Faye Keener

Faye Keener, 87, passed away in the early morning hours of February 2, 2025 at Bristol Park in Amarillo, surrounded by loved ones.

(LoEtta) Faye was born in Gladewater, Texas to Lola Blanche and Benjamin Bernard Noyes on August 15, 1937. She graduated from Hereford High School in 1956. During the same year, she met Wilbur Keener draggin' Main Street in the town square of Hereford and quickly fell in love. They got married on September 15, 1956 at the Justice of Peace in Clovis, New Mexico. They spent the next seven years together in Hereford before they moved to a farm in Parmer County., Texas in 1963. A year later the little family moved again to a farm north of Clovis, New Mexico where they would spend the next thirty years building a life and growing their family together.

Faye began college at Eastern New Mexico University in 1969 and earned her first degree in English in 1972. That same year she began working at Gattis Jr. High School in Clovis, New Mexico where she taught English for the next 24 years. By the mid 80's, she earned a Masters in English with an additional 45 hours over the MA. In 1996, Faye retired from teaching to take care of her ailing husband. In 1997, Wilbur and Faye bought and began managing the Morning Star Bed and Breakfast in Portales, New Mexico. Wilbur passed away a year later in 1998. Faye continued to excel as a host to many interesting people from all over the world in her charming bed and breakfast until 2007.

Throughout her life Faye was a devout Christian and an active member of First Baptist Church in Portales where she enjoyed playing the piano and was well known for always being right. She was a skilled 42 and 84 player (3rd place in 42 partners tournament 2004) and loved to win. she taught her kids and grandkids to enjoy games like Dominos, Mahjong, Solitair, and Free Cell.

Faye was preceded in death by her parents Lola and Ben Noyes; her husband of 41 years Wilbur Keener; siblings Benjamin Bernanrd Noyes Jr., Edna Short Faulkner, Don Noyes, James Gerald Noyes, Robert Lewis Noyes; granddaughter Lindsey Inge; and two sons-in-law Calvin Winters and Ron Sanders.

Survivors include daughters Robin Inge and husband Michael (Portales, New Mexico); Stacy Keener (Clovis, New Mexico); Julie Winters (Amarillo, Texas); stepdaughters Barbara Sanders (Bentonville, Arkansas); Brenda Keener (Florida); sister Beverly Anne Brown (Amarillo, Texas); 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild, and many many nieces and nephews and greats.

Visitation will be held from 5:00p - 9:00p on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Steed-Todd Funeral Home in Clovis, New Mexico.

Services will be held at 10:00am on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Steed-Todd Funeral Home in Clovis, New Mexico. Pastor Mark McAfee will officiate.

Burial will follow services at Lawn Haven Cemetery in Clovis, New Mexico. Pall bearers will be Thomas Baca, Steve Goff, Michael Inge, Gage Segura, Treyton West, Jeremy Winters and Chance Wright.