1946
Otis
2014
Otis Keener Earle
July 20, 1946 — December 28, 2014
Keener Earle came into the world on July 20, 1946 in Washington, D.C. with a curiosity for everything around him. His father, Otis John Earle, and mother, Virginia Reifsnider Earle raised Keener in the Philadelphia area where he graduated from Episcopal Academy in 1964.
He followed a long family tradition of military service and graduated from U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 with degrees in Engineering and International Studies. As a Naval officer, Keener served on a nuclear submarine in Vietnam during the war. Afterward, his service continued as a member of the Navy Reserves. In 1973, he retired as a Captain. Following the Navy, he was based in Bremerton, Washington where he fell in love with and married Denise McGee. Denise and Keener moved to Corvallis, Oregon where he attended graduate school and earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University. In 1981, Keener and Denise had a son, Charles "Chuck" Earle. Fatherhood was truly one of the greatest joys of Keener's life. Chuck now lives in New Brunswick, Canada with his wife Jen.
As Keener pursued a career in nuclear energy, he and his family lived in Richland, Washington, Detroit, Fort Worth, and finally, Idaho Falls, Idaho where he lived for 23 years. His work involved countless trips to Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. He made friends around the world and loved eating foreign foods, learning new languages, and seeing sites throughout many countries. He also loved to entertain foreign visitors in Idaho. After retiring in 2008, he continued to work as a consultant and to travel throughout the world
In 2000, Denise passed away after 28 wonderful years of marriage. At that point, Keener realized that life is truly short and not something he could control. He began taking more time to pursue his extensive hobbies including fishing world-class rivers, hiking undiscovered trails, white water rafting down untamed rivers, cross-country skiing through winter's secret passages, and bicycling wherever possible. One of the highlights of every year was a weeklong raft trip down the Main Salmon River in the roadless Idaho interior. Keener loved the state of Idaho and was often stunned by its beauty and exhilarated by its challenges. In Idaho, Keener found both his own inner peace and complexity laid out before him.
In 2002, Keener married Karen Alexandra Moore, a long-time friend, and the two shared many traits, especially a love of life and laughter. Karen and Keener could always be found exploring the world both near and far, from local camping and hiking to trips to Ireland, Fiji, Austria, and Mexico, to name a few.
Karen has two daughters, Christine Garcia and Kimberly Garcia, who quickly began to recognize in Keener a kindness that would soon make him a close friend, mentor, and teacher. Both daughters' husbands, Cameron Booth and Kevin Marcotte, consider Keener among their dearest friends. To Ryden Booth, Keener's grandson, there is no greater joy than a wrestling match with Captain K-man.
Since retirement, Keener has worked as a volunteer for Hospice of Eastern Idaho, FreeMed, Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen, Finance Committee for Saint John Paul II Catholic Community, and Hospital Ministry. His devotion to community is unparalleled and he truly believed that service was every person's most important responsibility. His sharp wit, boundless intelligence, devotion to family, commitment to understanding and learning, and, especially, the kindness that he brought to every interaction, are traits that have made the people around him who they are today. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis John Earle and Virginia Reifsnider Earle, his wife Denise McGee Earle, and his nephew David Earle. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend Karen, brother Richard Earle, sister-in-law Jeanne Earle, his son Chuck Earle, daughter-in-law Jen Earle, stepdaughter Christine Garcia, stepdaughter Kimberly Garcia, son-in-law Cameron Booth, son-in-law Kevin Marcotte, and grandson Ryden Booth. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, with Father Raul Covarrubias, officiating. A Rosary will be held on Friday, January 2, 2014 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a viewing to follow from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. both at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 E. 17th Street in Idaho Falls. In lieu of gifts or flowers, Keener's family is requesting that donations be made in his name to the Hospice of Eastern Idaho: http://hospiceofeasternidaho.com/donate/Otis Keener "Keener" Earle passed away in Idaho Falls, ID on Sunday, December 28, 2014. He died with his wife Karen holding his hand at his side.
When: Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
When: Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
When: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
He followed a long family tradition of military service and graduated from U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 with degrees in Engineering and International Studies. As a Naval officer, Keener served on a nuclear submarine in Vietnam during the war. Afterward, his service continued as a member of the Navy Reserves. In 1973, he retired as a Captain. Following the Navy, he was based in Bremerton, Washington where he fell in love with and married Denise McGee. Denise and Keener moved to Corvallis, Oregon where he attended graduate school and earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University. In 1981, Keener and Denise had a son, Charles "Chuck" Earle. Fatherhood was truly one of the greatest joys of Keener's life. Chuck now lives in New Brunswick, Canada with his wife Jen.
As Keener pursued a career in nuclear energy, he and his family lived in Richland, Washington, Detroit, Fort Worth, and finally, Idaho Falls, Idaho where he lived for 23 years. His work involved countless trips to Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. He made friends around the world and loved eating foreign foods, learning new languages, and seeing sites throughout many countries. He also loved to entertain foreign visitors in Idaho. After retiring in 2008, he continued to work as a consultant and to travel throughout the world
In 2000, Denise passed away after 28 wonderful years of marriage. At that point, Keener realized that life is truly short and not something he could control. He began taking more time to pursue his extensive hobbies including fishing world-class rivers, hiking undiscovered trails, white water rafting down untamed rivers, cross-country skiing through winter's secret passages, and bicycling wherever possible. One of the highlights of every year was a weeklong raft trip down the Main Salmon River in the roadless Idaho interior. Keener loved the state of Idaho and was often stunned by its beauty and exhilarated by its challenges. In Idaho, Keener found both his own inner peace and complexity laid out before him.
In 2002, Keener married Karen Alexandra Moore, a long-time friend, and the two shared many traits, especially a love of life and laughter. Karen and Keener could always be found exploring the world both near and far, from local camping and hiking to trips to Ireland, Fiji, Austria, and Mexico, to name a few.
Karen has two daughters, Christine Garcia and Kimberly Garcia, who quickly began to recognize in Keener a kindness that would soon make him a close friend, mentor, and teacher. Both daughters' husbands, Cameron Booth and Kevin Marcotte, consider Keener among their dearest friends. To Ryden Booth, Keener's grandson, there is no greater joy than a wrestling match with Captain K-man.
Since retirement, Keener has worked as a volunteer for Hospice of Eastern Idaho, FreeMed, Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen, Finance Committee for Saint John Paul II Catholic Community, and Hospital Ministry. His devotion to community is unparalleled and he truly believed that service was every person's most important responsibility. His sharp wit, boundless intelligence, devotion to family, commitment to understanding and learning, and, especially, the kindness that he brought to every interaction, are traits that have made the people around him who they are today. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis John Earle and Virginia Reifsnider Earle, his wife Denise McGee Earle, and his nephew David Earle. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend Karen, brother Richard Earle, sister-in-law Jeanne Earle, his son Chuck Earle, daughter-in-law Jen Earle, stepdaughter Christine Garcia, stepdaughter Kimberly Garcia, son-in-law Cameron Booth, son-in-law Kevin Marcotte, and grandson Ryden Booth. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, with Father Raul Covarrubias, officiating. A Rosary will be held on Friday, January 2, 2014 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a viewing to follow from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. both at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 E. 17th Street in Idaho Falls. In lieu of gifts or flowers, Keener's family is requesting that donations be made in his name to the Hospice of Eastern Idaho: http://hospiceofeasternidaho.com/donate/Otis Keener "Keener" Earle passed away in Idaho Falls, ID on Sunday, December 28, 2014. He died with his wife Karen holding his hand at his side.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
Second Visitation
When: Friday, January 2nd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
Service
When: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Otis Keener Earle, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Photo Gallery
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors