Michael "Big Mike" Keeney

Michael Edward Keeney Sr., 65, of Orange, Texas, passed peacefully at home on May 23, 2020 surrounded by his family. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Floyd E. Keeney, Jr. and Betty Hunter Keeney of Groves. Texas.

Mike graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1973. Following graduation, he attended Texas Tech University where he played football for the Raiders. He then went to the Game Warden Academy in Austin, Texas. In 1982 he was stationed in Orange County, Texas where he served as a Game Warden until his retirement in 2010. Along the way he married the love of his life, Halye Keeney. They dated for a brief four-week period before they wed March 8, 1987. They welcomed their only child, Michael Edward Keeney II, into the world March 1988. On March 8, 2020 they celebrated their 33rd anniversary just as in love as 1987. Mike was an active member of Cowboy Church and the Cowboy Cross Band. He also enjoyed his membership in the SALT Club and Orange Gun Club.

He is predeceased by his mother and father.

Surviving in addition to his wife is his son, Michael Edward Keeney II of New York City, NY; His sister, Karen Rohrbaugh of Groves and her son, Collin Rohrbaugh of College Station. His brother, Floyd E. Keeney III and his wife Laura Lynn Pete Keeney and their children Dr. Hunter Keeney and his wife, Beth Jones Keeney with their daughters, Alice and Layla; Jillian Keeney Hunt and her husband, Dr. Jason Hunt with their children, Jackson and Lillian; and Dr. Erin Keeney Dyson and her husband Brent Dyson and their daughter, Blake. His nephew, Robert W. Turner III and his wife Jenifer Daniels Turner of Vidor with their daughter, Jade. Julie and Bobby Walker of Orangefield and their son Shiloh were special friends to the family.

Mike will always be remembered as a gentle giant, at 6’9” and 400 pounds who carried a gun. Mike touched the lives of all those he met from the outlaws he wrote tickets to the children he taught Boating and Hunting Education. Once you met him, his sweet smile and infectious laugh left an impression impossible to forget. He was a special, Christian man that loved to share his faith with others especially through music. Over the years he played his guitar to the children in the nursery at Community Church, at family get-togethers, and any other time he could. His voice and skill with a guitar were a gift from God and it was his greatest joy to minister through that gift.

A celebration of life for Big Mike will be held Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at The Cowboy Church of Orange County located at 673 FM 1078, Orange, Texas 77632.

Those who wish to remember Mike in a special way may make gifts to the ASPCA because of his deep love for animals.

Arrangements were made by Deborah Kibodeaux and the entire Supper Club with Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.