Dr. Loren F. McKeown

DR. LOREN MCKEOWN December 16, 1934 ~ November 23, 2017

Memorial service for Dr. Loren McKeown will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2017 in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with Rev. Lisa Beavers, Pastor officiating.

Interment with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Dr. Loren McKeown, age 82, Lawton, passed away Thursday, November 23, 2017. The son of Roy and Jewell Chastain McKeown, Loren was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on December 16, 1934. He attended Ada public schools and East Central State College prior to service in the United States Marine Corps, 1953-56.

He earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate from Oklahoma State University. He taught English at Davenport, Oklahoma, High School, where he also served as principal. Moving then into higher education, he taught English at Peru State College in Nebraska and then at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he was chairman of the Language Arts Department for the first thirteen of twenty-eight years of service before retirement.

In addition to traditional English and American literature, Loren's teaching assignments included courses in composition, the English language, and the literature of American minorities, including African-American literature and a course in Native-American literature, which he initiated at Cameron.

Loren and Rebecca Lackey, of Wayne, Oklahoma, were united in marriage April 5, 1958. His beloved wife of 59 years died the day following Loren’s death in Oklahoma City.

Loren accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized in Ada First Baptist Church in July 1942. At the time of his death, he was a member of Lawton's St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where he had served on a number of committees, taught adult Sunday school, and was representative on the Cameron Campus Ministry board of directors.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary McKeown Davis.

Survivors include a daughter, Nancy and husband Dale of Cushing; three sons: Mike and wife Luciana of Marble Falls, Texas; Tom of Mustang; David and wife Tracy of Yukon; and daughter-in-law Patricia of Mustang. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Sarah Dowell, Emily Dowell Love and husband Eric, Susan Dowell, Samuel McKeown and wife Jordynn, Sara Kelley, Chelsea McKeown Timmons and husband Chris, Grace McKeown, Daniel McKeown, and Ana McKeown, and nine great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Loren and Rebecca McKeown Endowed Scholarship in English Cameron University Foundation, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 73505 or to St. Paul's United Methodist Church 910 NW 38th St., Lawton, OK 73505.

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ELDERLY COUPLE KILLED IN TUTTLE TWO-CAR WRECK

Posted: Nov 24, 2017 5:14 PM CST Updated: Nov 25, 2017 4:25 PM CST BY JENNIFER PIERCE, NEWS 9EMAIL

TUTTLE, Oklahoma - There is new information on a deadly collision that happened on Thanksgiving Day in Tuttle. An elderly couple was killed, and another driver was injured Thursday on Highway Four near Tyler Road. “I was sitting in the office and heard an impact,” said Terry Coker, Tuttle business owner. “Loud, large, big boom.” He heard the impact of an SUV hitting this silver car head-on and ran to see what happened.

“Apparently, the guy crossed the center line and hit another car head-on,” Chief Don Cluck, Tuttle Police Department. “One was medi-flighted and another taken by ambulance.”

The driver of the SUV, 26-year-old Michael Brayden Redding, was medi-flighted and was the only one in the vehicle. The 82-year-old driver of the silver car died and his 79-year-old wife was taken to OU Medical Center where she later succumbed to her injuries. Just after 5:30 p.m., authorities identified the victims as Loren and Rebecca McKeown, of Lawton.

“It was obvious that the driver was horribly injured and gone,” said Coker. “The lady was horribly injured but still conscious.”

Tuttle Police and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are investigating the accident. Police said at this time, there is no indication alcohol or drugs were involved.

Coker said he has seen many accidents in his life but this was probably one of the worst.

“One of the people at the site actually brought me a blanket,” said Coker.

Coker used the blanket to cover Loren and to shield Rebecca from his injuries.

“Horrible thing,” said Coker. “I hope the lady is doing well today.”

The driver of the SUV was also taken to OU Medical Center.