Ona Myrtle Keener

Our sweet Mama, Myrtle, was born in Monet, Arkansas on March 12, 1931 to Joseph and Mary Mosely and passed away peacefully on November 27, 2019 in Bakersfield, CA. She moved to Lamont, CA when she was fourteen years old and married Walter Bernal Strickland on December 27, 1946. They had three children, Joe, Rose Ann and Janie. In 1961, she married Gerald Averett and they had a daughter, Connie. On October 28, 1983 she married Edward Keener whom she called the "Love of her life."

Myrtle was a farm laborer before becoming a waitress at Goldie's Caf and other local restaurants for over thirty years, In her later years you would find her in the kitchen of Bakersfield Family Church baking and cooking for the food ministry and other church events. She became "Grandma Myrtle" to her entire church family. She was known for her cooking, funny jokes, and love for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, precious Great Granddaughter Pauline Marie Garcia and other loved ones. She is survived by her sisters, Kathleen Lackey, Betty Burkhead and husband Don; her son, Joe Strickland and wife Nita; daughters, Rose Ann Green, Janie Hill and husband Richard, Connie Ramay and Barry Lynch; grandchildren, Casondra Johnston, Stacey Strickland, Christy Escalante, Teresa Jolin, Kevin Green, Melissa Thornsberry, Amber Olvera, Shawn Ramay, Haley Garcia, Chad Ramay; Great Grandchildren, Chaz Escalante, Adriana Aristeiguieta, Dalton Thorsberry, Whitnie Escalante, Makenzie Thornsberry, Caleb Olvera, Tomas Garcia, Zephania Brunton, Elijah Olvera, Isaac Brunton, Richie Escalante, Chloe Ramay, Olivia Olvera, Carlee Ramay, Judy Garcia, Jack Garcia, Bitty Garcia, Timothy Garcia, Amanda Melte, Nena Hedrick, Dorrian Graves; fiver great great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.