Gary Keith Abney

Keith Abney, 76, of Haskell Arkansas, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the five women that loved him most.  Keith was born March 5, 1945 to Lon Abney Jr. and Marie Tisdale Abney in Houston, Texas. The oldest of three boys, he was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana and graduated from C.E. Byrd in 1963. In 1965 he met and married the love of his life, Marilyn Hill, while attending Louisiana Tech. Keith was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and in 1966 they named his first daughter, Kit, their sweetheart. After college, Keith’s job with Murphy Oil had them living in multiple cities. Keith and Marilyn joyfully welcomed their second daughter, Ellen (New Orleans), in 1968 and third daughter, Karen (Baton Rouge), in 1971. Beginning his employment with the McDonald’s corporation in 1975, Keith and Marilyn, proudly opened their first franchise in 1985 in Houston. During that time their family was completed with the birth of their fourth baby girl, Meghann, in 1979.  After owning restaurants in Blackwell, Oklahoma and Little Rock, Arkansas, Keith left McDonald’s in 1996. He and Marilyn returned to Bossier City where he owned a small business for several years before moving to Minnesota to enjoy retirement Up North. But the beautiful views of Fall Lake were not enough to keep them away from their family. They relocated to Arkansas in 2015, where they could attend ball games, family celebrations, and enjoy Lake Ouachita again with their “Lake Family.”
Keith’s legacy is one of fun, generosity, and love. Keith served others in many ways. Some of his proudest times were as a volunteer for Ronald McDonald House, P.A.R.K., various leadership positions in the Methodist church, Blackwell Public School Foundation, and as Grand Master of his Masonic Lodge. Keith loved people. He would happily get to know every person he met and would thoughtfully remember what was shared. He could not wait to share about his daughters and grandchildren of whom he was so proud. Keith wanted to be sure that when his life ended his family would know and never forget that they were deeply loved. We absolutely  do.  Keith is preceded in death and is now reunited with his parents and grandson, Noah Owens.
He is survived by his best friend and wife of 56 years, Marilyn Hill Abney, and daughters Kathleen Spelce (Allen) of Spicewood, Texas; Ellen Shollmier (Dudley) of Little Rock, Arkansas; Karen Clements of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Meghann Donaldson (Scott) of Haskell, Arkansas. His legacy continues with his grandchildren Zach and Carson Spelce, Drew Holiman (fiance Stormie) and Chloe Owens, Madison, Tanner, and Katie Clements, and Sydney and William Donaldson. Keith is also survived by brothers Kent and Paul (Sibylle) Abney, sister-in-law Judy Pope, brothers-in-law Kenneth (Pat) and Don (Debbie) HIll and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 10:30 at Hill Crest Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Keith’s family is grateful to Kindred Hospice for their service and care.

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home.  Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.