KEENE, PATRICIA ANN DYSON (1935 - 2025). The following is an obituary for Patricia Ann Dyson Keene, spouse of Henry Bradford Keene, former chairman of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The obituary was published in the Dallas Morning News on August 9, 2025.
Patricia Ann (Dyson) Keene was born at Eagle Lake, Oklahoma on March 11, 1935 and passed away on July 31, 2025 in Dallas, surrounded by family. Growing up, Patricia enjoyed a bucolic, yet hard working farm family life in Bryan County, Oklahoma the eldest of three children of the late Faye and Ralph Dyson, who predeceased her as did her two brothers Ralph and Larry. Patricia's childhood and adult life were influenced by the loving and faith-filled Dyson and Hawkins clans including many aunts, uncles and cousins who farmed, ranched and pastored in the Yuba community. Patricia met her husband Henry B. Keene while both were attending college in Denton in 1953. They married in 1954 for a 48-year loving marriage at the time of Henry's death in 2002.
Patricia earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in home economics and English at Texas Women's University in 1956 and enjoyed a 30-year career of public high school classroom teaching and later elementary counseling. Patricia was active in a number of professional and educational organizations throughout her career including the American Association of University Women and the Home Economics Innovators. She was a proud member of the Mary Quisenberry chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to her own career, Patricia supported Henry's Texas Instruments career and State of Texas service while raising three children, Russell, Bradford and Alexis. Patricia created a warm, Christian home and hearth for her family organizing neighborhood and family holiday celebrations, carpooling to countless church and sports activities, and actively volunteering in their PTAs in Richardson and Austin schools, and later following her children's UT-Austin university lives and activities. Patricia loved her extended family greatly and enjoyed being an aunt to six nieces and nephews, while keeping up with her and Henry's relatives from California, Florida, New Mexico and New York.
In later life following Henry's death, Patricia devoted her time to actively supporting the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum, the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Dallas, Highland Park United Methodist Church and the Northwood Woman's Club. Patricia cherished the fellowship of the First Light Sunday School class and her service as a library volunteer and Stephen Minister at the church. She enjoyed many friends, domestic and overseas trips and memories while logging countless volunteers hours with the Northwood Woman's Club.
Patricia is survived by her three children, six grandchildren (Houston, Miller, Isabella and Mary Russell Keene, and Ella and Pierce Collard) one great grandchild (Houston Keene, Jr.) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Patricia was interred alongside her husband Henry at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin on August 7, and a Celebration of Life will be held August 11 at 3:00 pm at Cox Chapel, Highland Park United Methodist Church. Patricia was a beloved matriarch, friend, educator and volunteer who leaves a legacy of kindness, genuine warmth and compassion to live on through her devoted family and the many lives touched throughout her long and fulfilling life.
Should one so choose, memorials are suggested to either the Highland Park Methodist Church's Library (3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205 or hpumc.org.) or the American Heart Association (105 Decker Ct. #200, Irving, TX 75062 or heart.org).
