“I know one thing for sure, Jesus is the only way to God” — J.R. Keeney

Roscoe “J.R.” “went to be with Jesus” on July 30, 2014. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Columbia Falls. J.R was 84.

Roscoe was born in Hortshone, Okla., (Pushmataha County) March 30, 1930, to Samuel and Mary (Reed) Keeney.

J.R. moved to Waterford, Calif., with his family in 1944.

He married Leone “Reenie” Hyatt in 1947. They had  three children, Roy, Jim and Mike. The family lived in Waterford until the time of her death in 2002.

J.R. began driving truck at 25 years of age and had accomplished 2 1/4 million miles in his career. J.R. had worked as a farmer, construction worker, underground sprinkler installer, millwright and was the foreman running the cement batch plant during the construction of Stanford University.

J.R. moved to Montana in 2002. He loved, hunting, fishing, camping, gold prospecting and building rifle stocks and woodworking in general.

J.R. served many people through his food ministry where he co-founded the Waterford Food bank and he considered this service to be one of his greatest accomplishments.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife “Reenie” of 50-plus years; his son, Jim, and daughter-in-law Diane Keeney.

He is survived by his wife, Louella Keeney; his sons, Jim and wife Marie of Three Forks, Mont., son Mike and wife Shela Keeney, stepson Tim Murry and wife Sandy, and stepdaughter Rhonda and husband Jim Frederick, all of Columbia Falls; stepdaughter, Tamra, and John Tveit, of Kalispell; stepson, Kindal Murry, and wife, Bonni, of Trego; sisters, Vivian Hedden and Annacarole Lenen of Waterford, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Columbia Bible Baptist Church, 195 Veterans Drive in Columbia Falls. A potluck reception will follow.

Cremation has taken place. A burial will take place at Lakewood Cemetery in Hughson, Calif., at a later date.