KEAST. Irene Annette (Thompson) - b. September 22, 1924 - d. October 11, 2020

[patyrn]

Irene Annette Keast, longtime resident of Elk County, Kansas, passed away October 11, 2020 at Augusta Lakepoint in Augusta, Kansas.  She was born September 22, 1924 on the family farmstead west of Howard, Kansas to Lawrence and Nellie (Forsyth) Thompson. 

Irene attended Union Center rural school until high school and then attended and graduated from Howard High School in 1942.  She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas for two years.

On July 6, 1947, Irene married Wayne Keast in Wichita, Kansas.  Together they raised three children, Mark, Tom, and Annette.  They enjoyed 60 years of marriage until Wayne passed away in 2007.  Irene and Wayne lived in Haven, Kansas and Beloit, Kansas for a short time before moving to the family farm near Howard, Kansas in 1951 to take over due to Irene's dad's failing health.  They worked the farm together for the next 40 years until they sold the farm and moved into Howard in 1990.  They enjoyed living in town, but they also enjoyed doing some traveling when they could.

Irene considered herself a housewife, but she worked just as hard as anybody else on the farm.  She was well known by the local hay hands in the community for the meals they would be served while working on the farm for the Keasts.  She was very proud that she was a third generation Elk Countian as her Grandmother Forsyth settled here after traveling by covered wagon from Indiana.

Irene was an active member of the Howard community.  At one point, she was a 4-H leader as well as a member of the Howard United Methodist Church, the Union Center Homemakers H.D.U,, the United Methodist Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary.  Above all, Irene was a mom and a grandma.  She was very proud of her family, and her entire family meant everything to her.

Irene is survived by her son, Mark (Sandra) Keast of Aurora, Colorado, Tom Keast of Elk Falls, Kansas, and Annette (Richard) Barnaby of Longton, Kansas; her sister, Shirley Doughty of Island Park, Arkansas; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne; ad her sister, Faye Obins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.  Graveside service will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Howard, Kansas.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk County Community Foundation and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)