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Verna Lee Keaton, 93, of Bogalusa, La., went peacefully to be with the Lord on March 27, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born in a log cabin in Bush, La., to the late Philip and Eunice Crawford and was the oldest of four children. She completed 9th grade as valedictorian from 5th Ward School and went on to obtain her GED. At the age of 16, she married “Charlie” and they had four sons. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a woman of many talents and accomplishments. She was a marvelous cook (spaghetti and meatballs a la Verna Lee) was just one favorite amongst us all. She was also a wonderful seamstress with some of her creations still being passed down and worn by generations. She enjoyed playing cards and games (mostly Gin, Kings Corner, and Rummikub) using them to teach her grandchildren the importance of honesty and integrity. Professionally, she started her career as a clerk for the draft board, but spent many years in the retail industry with Montgomery Ward. During her son’s younger days, she was a stay-at-home mother for many years. She was a cub scout “den-mother” for what seemed like an eternity and an avid “boy scout mother” to many boys not just her own while supporting Charlie, who was a scoutmaster for many years. Vernal Lee was a member of Memorial Baptist Church. She enjoyed singing and was in the choir in her younger years. Faith was an important part of her upbringing and she and Charlie continued to pass that down to their entire family. Making sure her children and grandchildren knew about the importance of believing and trusting in Christ as our Savior was a top priority for her. Nothing brought her more joy than to have one of her family members come to know Christ because that meant she would get them to see them again one day. She loved her children, grandchildren, and greats with all her heart. She was the maw-maw every child wanted. From the first, down to last, she was and will always be known as Maw-Maw Charlie, which was always ok with her. She will be missed immensely by all who knew her.     She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Charles A. Keaton; her son, C. Philip Keaton; her parents, Philip and Eunice Crawford; two sisters, Marjorie Gittinger and Quita Jourdan; and one brother, Leonard Ray Crawford.

She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Marianne Keaton; sons, Russell (Beth) Keaton, Earl (Cuba) Keaton, and Royce (Tina) Keaton; grandchildren, Phil (Julie) Keaton, Caroline (Don) Bankston, Kyle Keaton, Rose (Robert) McGovern; Chris (Gina) Keaton, Adam (Amy) Keaton, Blake (Lindsay) Fussell, Sarah Fussell Keaton, Jason (Piper) Keaton, James (Julie) Keaton, John (Ashley) Keaton, Laura (Tommy) Gudiroz, Emilee (Clint) Gerald, Alex Keaton; and numerous great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Johnnie Crawford.

Visitation was from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. followed by the service on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home. Graveside service to follow at Hillview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were her grandsons: Phil, Kyle, Chris, Adam, Jason, James, John, and Alex Keaton.