Otis Lee Keen Sr., of Plainview, died on July 10, 2007. He was born on a 360-acre farm in Pittsylvania County, Sycamore, Gretna, VA, the son of Charlie S. Keen and Lucy Green Shelton. He was the husband of the late RoseMary. He was the oldest of 10 children, David R., Doreen Strawn, Harold. William, Sarah Barker, Sam, Dottie Elliott, Lois Gay (deceased) and Katherine Jennings. Father of Loris Lee Morici (Sal) and Otis Lee Keen II. Grandfather of Raymond Keen and Sarah Morici-Goldstein. Great-grandfather of Hayley and Clinton Keen.

As a boy he helped his mom by toting water pumped from a well to wash diapers on a wash board, helped care for his siblings and when he was 10, began working in the fields on their tobacco farm. He was a much loved son and when WWII broke out, he felt the need to serve his country. He joined the Army in 1942 at the age of 22, not knowing when he would return. He moved up in rank and made staff sergeant in charge of the 169th Infantry Platoon of 11 men. They fought in Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Under his leadership, all of his men made it safely home. In 1945, while on leave, he met his wife, RoseMary Barrello of Floral Park, who was visiting friends in Virginia. After two weeks they were married on Valentine's Day and he then left to go back to the war. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 20, 1945 at Fort Dix, NJ.

He and his bride moved to Floral Park with his in-laws. On Sept. 15, 1945 his daughter, Loris Lee, was born. He worked at various jobs and saved his money. In 1951 he bought a new home in Plainview and started the B & K Excavating Company performing work for the contractors who built homes in Plainview and the surrounding towns. On July 30, 1955, his son Otis L. Keen II was born with two club feet and mental retardation. In 1959, he became a member of the Lions Club, and along with his wife RoseMary, they were involved for 13 years with AHRC in Brookville. Both volunteered many hours of fund raising, getting donations, selling tickets and journal ads for the Annual Rose Ball. So that he could reach his full potential they placed son Otis II into the UCPN, Roosevelt, Day Program which he still attends to this day. Otis Sr. retired in 1992 at age 72.

The family was cared for by the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home, Hicksville Chapel. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association of Nassau and Suffolk, 225 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11787.