Ellis Robert Keen Sr.

Ellis Robert Keen, Sr., 88, of 2037 Yale Drive, Graham, North Carolina, passed away on January 25 following a brief illness. Bob was born August 14, 1934, to parents Esther Keen West and Erwin Rowe in Keen Mountain, Virginia. He grew up with the loving guidance of Minnie and Ed Hess of Tazewell, Virginia, where he developed a lifetime love of horses, an appreciation for hard work, and a job well done.

Bob was a U.S. Navy Veteran, a retired Lieutenant with the Burlington Police Department, a graduate of the New York School of Criminology, and was appointed by Governor Jim Martin to the North Carolina Board of Corrections.

His lifelong love of horses led Bob to establish Circle K Ranch in 1960. He was an open show judge for over 40 years and an Appaloosa Horse Association judge for 17 years. Bob presented at many clinics across the United States and Canada to promote and teach youth the art of showing in the horse industry. Bob’s professional, personal and equine history is outlined in the book Hoofbeats Across America. Bob was committed to the community and to a philosophy of hard work, dedication to excellence, and doing the “right thing” by his friends and neighbors.

His greatest asset was his ability to bring people together and marshal talent and resources to help others in need. This was demonstrated by many fundraisers held at the Circle K Ranch to benefit organizations such as the Shriners Hospital for Children, Hospice of Alamance, Allied Churches, the AuthoraCare Collective, and individuals experiencing unique health challenges or injuries. He established the “Cowboy Up Award” presented to individuals for their community enrichment efforts.

Bob is preceded in death by his mother, Esther Keen West; father, Irvine Rowe; and sisters, Phyllis Johnson and Betty Jo Rowe Crigger. He is survived by his wife, Anne M. Keen of Graham, North Carolina; his son Ellis Robert Keen, Jr. (Bob) of Graham, North Carolina; and sister Loretta Jean Cleghorn as well as many nieces and nephews. Bob is also survived by the cherished Circle K Ranch family, both past and current. Those friendships brought light and joy to his life. Their generosity and love for Bob made his home on the ranch an oasis of peace and happiness for him daily.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 4:00 at the Rich & Thompson Funeral Home in Graham. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

The Keen family would like to thank the following people for the excellent care he had during the past years. His medical team included Dr. Lawrence Kleinberg, Dr. Jon Weingart, NP Lisa Katulis of Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, and Dr. Heidi T. Grandis of Duke Primary Care, Durham, North Carolina. A very special thank you is extended to the UNC Hospital SICU Team, Drs. Liz Dreeson, Jin Ra, Trista Reid, Darrell Johnson, and Jared Gallaher. To the extraordinary nurses caring for Bob in the SICU, Jessica Ramous, Ashlyn Swintek, Amanda Moroney, Pam Choquette, Misty Williamson, and Nurse Manager Amber Thompson, it is not possible for us to adequately express our appreciation for the excellent care and support of our family over the past few days.

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