James "Hubert" Keenum

James "Hubert" Keenum, age 90 of Candy Mountain Road in Murphy, NC died Sunday, June 3, 2007 in the home in which he was born at the site of the original Suit Post Office on October 8, 1916. He was the son of the late James William Keenum and the late Laura 'Belle Beaver-Keenum who reared their children in the Suit community. His sisters Pauline Keenum, Anna Belle Dobbins; sisters-in-law Vaude Curtis Keenum, Evelyn Radford Keenum, and Nell West Keenum; brothers Ernest Clint and Lennell Keenum; and brothers-in-law Glen Dean, James Dobbins and Doyle Ledford preceded him in death. Sisters Elease Keenum Cole, Eula Keenum Dean and Faye Ledford; sisters-in-law Geneva Garrett Keenum and Mona Wilcox Keenum; brothers Robert Guy and Tommy Keenum survive him.

Hubert worked at various jobs: driving wagon-loads of vegetables across Pack Mountain to sell in the mining communities in Ducktown, TN, hand-scything hay for the McNabbs and Hickeys in Suit, cutting wood for Joe Crowe and working in the cotton mills of Gastonia, NC. He began the ironworker apprenticeship program at Appalachia Dam and was initiated into the Masons in 1942. 1944 was a stellar year in his life. He became a journeyman ironworker, a third degree Mason and met the love of his life at Nantahala Dam.

He married Kathryn Jane Harling of Carlyle, Kansas on December 19, 1944 in Blue Ridge, Georgia. They were married almost 62 years before she preceded him in death on August 20, 2006. Their three children, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren survive them. Roger L. Keenum and his wife, S. Elaine Nowlin-Keenum live on Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Grandson James W. Keenum and wife Theresa live in Chattanooga, TN. Granddaughter Julie E. Keenum Taylor lives with her husband, Don, in Hanson, Kentucky with their three sons Zachary Wayne, Seth Lee and Cody James Taylor. The Keenums' daughter, Connie Bright lives with their granddaughter, Allyson Jayne Teter in Marina del Rey, California. Their daughter Rebecca J. "Becky" Keenum, lives in the home.

Jim, as he was known to coworkers, and Kaythryn and their children traveled to and lived all over the US at various construction sites during his 42 years as an ironworker. He served his country during WWII by working as an ironworker doing hydroelectric construction that powered the factories and plants on the east coast and constructing

buildings at Oak Ridge

during the

Manhattan Project.

He was a foreman

and superintendent

on many jobs. He worked

for the Tennessee

Valley Authority

for thirteen of

those years. He

also worked on

Army Corps of

Engineer jobs in

Kentucky and South Dakota and worked for Westinghouse in New York and MW Kellogg Construction Overseas. He earned the Safety Award from Kellogg for no injuries while he was ironworker superintendent.

He was a member of the Ironworker International and Wichita Local 606/24S. He was awarded Lifetime Status after being a member 60 years in both the ironworker's union and the Masons. He was a member of Montgomery Lodge in Ranger, North Carolina and thirty-year member of the Scottish Rite. He was a lifelong member of the Southern Baptist Church and was elected as a deacon at Friendship Baptist Church in Suit, North Carolina.

Hubert had various hobbies over the years. He called square dances as a young man. He enjoyed many outdoor activities such as: scything hay, cutting wood, fishing, hunting, growing dahlias, gardening. He enjoyed seeing the hand of God in nature. He also loved baking pound cakes. Many people enjoyed his storytelling even though he did not consider it a hobby. He and Kathryn made many friends during their travels and maintained contract with them. They sent over 200 Christmas cards with handwritten notes and letters for several years until the numbers dwindled as friends and family died.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2007 in the Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Glenn Rogers officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery with Masonic graveside rites. Pallbearers will be Gary Stiles, Lee Stiles, James W. Keenum, Don Taylor, Ray Dean and Greg Dean. Honorary pallbearers will be the Masons.

The family will recieve friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at the Townson Rose Funeral Home in Murphy, NC where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service hour.

In lieu of flowers the family would prefer gifts be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, Scottish Rite/Shriners Childrens' Hospital, the Salvation Army or Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

You may pay tribute to the Keenum family at www.mem.com .

Townson Rose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.