Mr. Patrick Keenan

Born in Enid, OK on September 6, 1936 Departed on January 16, 2015 and resided in Lavergne, TN Visitation: Hendersonville Funeral HomeSaturday January 24, 2015 12:00pm to 3:00pmMemorial: Hendersonville Funeral HomeSaturday January 24, 2015 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Pat was born on September 6, 1936 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Born to Claude Overstreet Keenan and Bessie Edith Drummond, he grew up in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Claude, an educator and home builder by trade, raised Pat to appreciate Christian values and a strong work ethic. Knocking the mortal from the center of recycled bricks at ½ cent per brick for his father was a story that Pat once told his oldest son to teach him the value of a dollar. Pat showed an early entrepreneurial streak keeping himself busy with paper routes and his own vending business in his teenage years.

Pat attended Tahlequah High School where he excelled in athletics and academics. Pat played football, served on the yearbook staff, and graduated in 1954. After working as a stringer for the sports section of the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, Pat enrolled in the University of Oklahoma on an academic scholarship. At OU, Pat majored in journalism and wrote for the campus newspaper in Norman, Oklahoma and was a legacy member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Pat transferred to the University of Minnesota in 1956, where he earned a bachelor of science in business administration in 1957.

Having graduated early, Pat began his career as one of the youngest marketing executives at Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, OH, earning the nickname "bonus baby" from his colleagues. P&G was the beginning of a long and successful career in sales, marketing, and advertising. Other companies that were fortunate to have Pat as an executive included General Mills, Beatrice Foods, Swiss Miss, Martha White, Fisher Cheese, and Pioneer Mills. Pat retired from Pioneer Mills in San Antonio, TX in 1997. Pat worked on many products that we are all familiar with today. At P&G, Pat's oldest son became one of the first babies to test Pampers. Moving back to Minneapolis, Pat joined General Mills where he worked on ads for Cheerios, Total, and Wheaties cereals. We have Pat to thank for introducing the mini marshmallows found in Swiss Miss cocoa, which is still on the grocery shelves today.

Pat met Sandra Jean Dower at the University of Minnesota and they were married in Minneapolis on August 24, 1957. Pat and Sandra had five children. Timothy born in 1961, Kathleen in 1963, Peter in 1965, John in 1968, and James in 1970. Pat was exceedingly proud of his children, all finishing college and working in manufacturing, business, journalism, and teaching.

Pat loved animals almost as much as his children. Any cat or dog to meet him would soon find him an endless source for treats. Pat had a preference for wire hair terriers, the last of which named Maggie, passed away in 2013. Pat was also known for his love of sports. He was devoted to the Oklahoma Sooners, Tennessee Volunteers (for his son's sake), the Chicago Cubs, and the San Antonio Spurs. Pat was well traveled, having visited most of the 50 states and travelling abroad to England, Ireland, Italy, Russia, and Hong Kong.

Pat will be forever be remembered fondly for his kindness, sense of humor, and devotion to family.