Marion Keene

Marion Margareta Dohm Keene, 80, of Arlington, Texas, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. 

Born on October 1, 1944, in Rommerz Neuhof, Hesse, Germany, Marion was the eldest of two children raised by her beloved parents, Margarete Huffer Gerner and Karl Gerner. She graduated from Schwanthaler School in Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt am Main, in 1962. As a teenager, Marion cherished traveling across Europe with her mother, creating lasting memories, especially at the beaches of Finale Ligure in Genoa, Italy. While working at her aunt’s café, Becker Bakery, she met a young American GI named Keith. Their connection led to a marriage proposal. She traveled to McLoud, Oklahoma, on January 31, 1963, to meet his family. Marion and Keith were married shortly thereafter on February 10, 1963, at his family home. 

After a brief residence in Richland Hills, Marion and Keith settled in Arlington in 1964, where they built a life together. They welcomed their daughter, Sandra Karen (Sandy), on December 28, 1963, and their son, Donald Justin (Dusty), on April 12, 1974. Marion was a devoted mother who supported her children’s sports and activities, served as a Girl Scout troop leader for Sandy, and fostered a warm, loving home. 

As her children grew, Marion entered the workforce. After work experience at NEC and McKesson, she found her career home at Abbott Laboratories, where she worked for over 20 years before retiring in 2012. 

Marion was deeply involved in her community, maintaining active memberships in the local German Club and Garden Club, as well as participating in YMCA Active Adults events. She treasured regular gatherings with retired friends from Abbott Laboratories and was a faithful member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church for more than 40 years. Marion’s love for animals was evident in her bond with her cherished dog, Katja. She also found joy in gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family. 

She is survived by her son, Donald Keene (Edith) of Arlington; her daughter, Sandra Keene Nelsen (Robert) of Crowley; her granddaughters, Jennifer Nelsen Thomas (Mike) of Hephzibah, GA; Amanda Nelsen Cox (Ernest) of Fort Worth, and Brandy Nelsen Dominguez (Calvin) of McAlester, OK; and her great-grandchildren, Tristan Anthony Crowder, Kiyana Reneé Crowder, Brycen Alexander Cox, Tycen Nathaniel Cox, Ryleigh Brooke Dominguez, Abygail Marie Dominguez, and Levi Calroy Dominguez. Her brother Hans-Jürgen Dohm of Frankfurt, Germany, and her cousin Rita Schneider of Nuremberg, Germany. 

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Margarete and Karl, Aunt Rosel, Aunt Gustal, and many other loved ones. 

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the amazing nurses of the 7th floor Oncology department of Harris Methodist Hospital.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP), or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).