Mary Kay Keenan

Mary Kathryn Stewart Keenan, 80, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, of acute myeloid leukemia.

Mary Kay was born November 29, 1944, to the late Perry Richard and the late Rachel Kennedy Stewart in Dixon, Illinois. Raised by her mother & maternal grandparents, Mary Kay graduated from Dixon High School and Purdue University. While at Purdue, she spent her junior year studying at La Universidad de San Marcos in Lima, Peru. She was a charter member of Alpha Phi Sorority at Purdue.

She worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company in Chicago as a Customer Instructor and Public Relations Representative. In 1974, IBT assigned her to be a Loaned Executive to the Chicago United Way where she met and married a fellow Loaned Executive, Philip S. Keenan.

After moving to Spartanburg where Phil taught at Wofford College, Mary Kay became active as a community volunteer. In addition to volunteering at Mary Black Hospital, she was a Docent at the Arts Center where she also organized and conducted art related tours both regionally and internationally. Countries visited included Russia, Great Britain, Austria, Holland, Bolivia, and Peru. Mary Kay and Phil also led Wofford students on Interim trips to China, Greece, and Turkey.

Mary Kay's greatest joy was derived from her dogs. Starting with Chows, she progressed to Keeshonden which she showed in Obedience, Rally, Barn Hunt, Agility, and Scent Work. Showing her dogs enabled her to meet and make friends with people throughout the country.

Mary Kay was predeceased by her husband: Phil S. Keenan in 2018. She is survived by her brother: Richard Stewart (Leta) of Rockton, IL; and her niece: Bethani Stewart of Phoenix, AZ.

There will be no services.