Obituary

Theresa “Terry” Stewart Keen

May 15, 1956 - October 8, 2025

Theresa “Terry” Gerard Stewart Keen was born on May 15, 1956 and passed away on October 8, 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.

She is survived by her children, Michelle Keen Blansett, and Michael (Alaina) Keen. She is also survived by her siblings, Mimi Fontenot and Danny (Jerri) Stewart. Terry was very proud of her family, and she is also survived by her grandchildren, Nathan and Ana Rose Keen, and Rayden and Ava Grace Rayborn; her aunts Pat Pounds and Joyce McKean; her sisters-in-law Elaine (David) Cantu and JoEllen Clark;  her nieces Heather (Daniel) Lambert, Tabetha Ezell, and Nikki (Damon Duke), and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews; three great-nephews Joseph (Sophia) and Jack Ezell, Finn Duke, great niece Kailyn Potts, and her great-great niece, Eleanor Ezell. Terry also had many friends whom she loved greatly, and most especially her longtime best friend, Taryn Thompson.

Terry was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Willie Daniel “Bill” Stewart; her former sister-in-law and dear friend Loretta Stewart; her brother Andrew Stewart; her brother-in-law Ray Fontenot; her beloved husband Perry Keen; and her son-in-law, Timothy Blansett. 

Terry attended Annunciation Catholic School and graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1975. She worked as an aide at Bogalusa Medical Center before beginning a long career loving children, beginning with School Marm’s Preschool and eventually Annunciation Catholic School, where she worked for over twenty-five years.  She was a lifetime member of Annunciation Catholic Church, where she was married in 1977. 

The most important thing in Terry’s life was her family. She was a loving and loyal wife to Perry, and she missed him every day after his passing. She was so proud of her children, Michelle and Mike, and she dedicated her entire life to them.  She was fierce in her adoration of her grandsons Nate and Rayden and granddaughters Ana and Ava. Her first concern was always protecting and pushing them all to achieve their very best in life. 

She was also an amateur genealogist; she loved researching the history of her family, and she compiled an extensive written genealogy of the Entrevia family, who emigrated to the United States from Palermo, Sicily. She collected and cherished family pictures and proudly displayed them in her home and at her work, and she could tell you the family tree of almost anyone in Bogalusa. She had no hesitation in asking people who their mama was, when they graduated from high school, or where their people were from. In short, she was a walking historian.

Terry was a character. She was strong-willed and determined; feisty, yet sensitive; incredibly loyal and protective, and unapologetically outspoken.  She loved to secretly do thoughtful and generous things for others, and she was not one for special attention. She collected key chains, angels, knickknacks, and anything patriotic. She was particularly proud of family members who served in the Armed Forces, especially her son Michael. She loved to watch Hallmark movies, visit the cemetery, look at Facebook, play Bingo (she could play four cards at a time), and watch her grandchildren play sports. She loved parades, traveling, talking on the phone, and Drummond’s hot tamales. 

In her role at Annunciation, she was the backbone of logistics and order, and she rarely made mistakes.  She could fix every copy machine, knew where everything was stored, who to call when something was in need of repair, and what every single key unlocked. She loved the students and treated them like they were her own children, and she selflessly took care of teachers.  She was at every school event, was a ruthless fundraiser, and could be counted on to lead the way in a crisis.

The outpouring of love and sentiment displayed at her passing demonstrates the effect Terry had on others. She touched so many people’s lives, and those whom she left behind, though grateful to have been a part of hers, will forever miss her. We rejoice that she is now united with the family she has missed for so long and are comforted knowing that she is in the arms of our Heavenly Father.  

Pallbearers will be Michael Keen, Nathan Keen, Rayden Rayborn, Joseph Ezell, Jack Ezell, and Josh Scroggs.

Visitation will be held Sunday, October 12, from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., with the rosary at 7:00 P.M., at Poole Ritchie Funeral Home, and it will continue on Monday, October 13, from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at Annunciation Catholic Church. There will be a rosary at 11:00 A.M., with the funeral Mass beginning at 12:00 P.M. Internment will be at Ponemah Cemetery.