Miriam Itelle Shults Keener

Miriam Itelle Shults Keener of Cosby died late Thursday morning, November 9, 2017, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law following a period of declining health. She was 85. Born April 8, 1932 in the Bogard community of Cocke County, TN, she was the seventh of nine children of Horace Alonzo and Mary Zula (Norris) Shults. To her family and many friends, she was known as "Mick." Of the nine siblings, one sister, Mary Hugh (Norris) Henry, of Chattanooga survives. She grew to maturity and lived the majority of her life in the shadow of English Mountain, attending Sunset Gap and Bogard Schools and worshipping at area churches, most recently McGaha's Chapel Baptist. She always enjoyed returning to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church for their homecoming celebration. She was a descendant of some of East Tennessee's earliest settlers, including Dr. Martin Shultz, John Denton, Frederick Lichlyter, Hugh Norris, and John Lillard. She married Jack Duane Keener on Dec. 13, 1950, and the couple became the parents of three children. For several years, they operated Keener's Grocery, where the couple developed deep friendships with their many customers. When not working in the store, she devoted herself to the care of her family and home and as long as her health permitted took great delight in canning and preserving fruits and vegetables, cultivating beautiful flowers, decorating her home for the holidays, and hosting visitors from far and wide. For the past three years, while living with her daughter and son-in-law, she cared for the family's "porch flowers." She loved music, especially the old-time gospel songs, and until recently, enjoyed attending singings and musical programs at Riverview Baptist Church and Newport Seventh-day Adventist Church. She also enjoyed several trips to Charleston, South Carolina to visit her granddaughter and great-grandson. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, devoted wife, nurturing mother, adoring grandmother and great-grandmother, favorite aunt and cousin, and blessed Christian. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers Duke, Dave, Don, and Jimmy Dale Shults and three sisters Inelle and Ina Rae Shults and Evelyn 'Bunt' Hartsell. In addition to her sister, she is survived by two daughters, Karen Kay (Keener) O'Neil and husband Duay, with whom she resided, and Nancy (Keener) Hansel and husband Mike, all of Newport, and one son, Marty Keener, of Cosby; two grandchildren: Amber Mary-Margaret O'Neil of Charleston, SC and Jack Duane Keener II of Kentucky; three great-grandchildren: Mason and Jaxson Keener of Newport and Connor Dash O'Neil of Charleston, SC; numerous nieces and nephews, many cousins, and a host of friends. The family wishes to say a special 'Thank you' to Amedysis Home Health and Hospice for the wonderful care, concern, and guidance they have provided the family and to the many family members and friends whose visits, calls, food, and messages brought comfort and strength when sorely needed. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 11, 2017, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Manes Funeral Home with the funeral service following. Maurice Shults will conduct the service, assisted by Dr. James Bennington and Rev. Rick Spell. Judge Carter Moore will provide music. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be sent to Stokely Memorial Library, 383 East Broadway, Newport, TN 37821. Online condolences may be sent to www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Manes Funeral Home

Miriam Itelle Shults Keener

April 8, 1932 - November 9, 2017