Helen Sue Keenan

Helen Sue Keenan (Revis), 87 of Battle Creek, Michigan passed away on January 26, 2024 in Battle Creek, Michigan.  Born December 20, 1936 in Dayton, Tennessee, Rhea County of Samuel Burton Revis and Katie Rae Wilkey. Her five sisters, all preceded in death, are Katie Fae Sinclair (Revis), AnnOpal Comfort (Revis), Martha Jane Darling (Revis), Drewena Revis, and Mary Ruth Crowley (Revis).

She is preceded in death by her daughter Laura Faye Mansfield and is survived by her other five children Thomas Lynn (Lisa) Mansfield, Joseph Randel (June) Mansfield, Bette Sue Taft (Mansfield), Amber Marie Mansfield and William Thomas Keenan, Jr.   She had 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.

She attended Battle Creek Central High School and graduated later with a GED.   She worked at Weston Bakery and then for Eaton Corporation for approximately 30 years.

Her greatest love was her family, particularly the grands.  “Grandma Doo” attended many sporting events, birthday parties, holiday gatherings and cherished any reason to be with family and they adored her!

She found the greatest peace through her love for the ocean in Florida.  She enjoyed walking the beach for hours collecting shells and watching the waves and sunsets.  She particularly enjoyed the fresh sea food which was always her first stop upon arriving.   She loved to cook and would show up at your door with potato soup if you mentioned you didn’t feel well.  She enjoyed her life through food – eating, preparing for others and special events. Her favorites were COCA COLA, biscuits and gravy, grits, little weenies, bologna sandwiches, potted meat, chips, and candy of all kinds.   

She enjoyed playing pool on the Busch pool league for many years for the Dolphin Lounge where she also prepared food and watched many sporting events. She was known for her secret oyster cracker recipe, deviled eggs, fruit salad, potato salad and seafood dip.  

She always looked forward to camping and hunting for morel mushrooms.  Her love for gardening often produced an overabundance of veggies which she happily gave away (especially tomatoes).  You could often find her watching old movies with her precious animals Sugar and Haley, reading, playing the slots and attending the dog or horse races. And, if there was a county or state fair around, she had to go to look at the animals and eat corndogs and elephant ears.  

She was a very strong and determined woman to provide the absolute best for her family – no matter what the sacrifice to her.  She was known for her quick wit and would often speak her mind without notice.  She was very spicey and sassy!  And we loved her without reservation.  ­