E. Keene Annis died in his Medway home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Columbus Ohio, and later residing in Elmira, NY, Ashland, MA, Dover, MA, Framingham, MA and Holliston, MA, Keene was the son of Ross E. Annis and Hazel Ellis Annis. He is preceded in death by his son K. Davieson Annis, and by his brother Ross E. Annis II.
Keene is survived by his wife of 59 years, Susan (Power) Annis, and his daughters Sarah (Annis) Lentini, DVM, of Framingham, MA and Nicole (Annis) Caruso of Charlton, MA, as well as his sister Ruth Annis de Lascoutx of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He is also survived by his grandchildren Gabriella and Maria Lentini, and Christopher and Leda Annis, as well as nephews Carlos Lascoutx, Christopher Lascoutx and Andres Lascoutx, and his niece Betsy Kaden.
Keene was a highly regarded co-owner of Waseeka Farm, producers of Morgan show and pleasure horses.
Keene was instrumental in helping to choose the original mares that became the foundation of the Waseeka breeding program back in the very early 1950s.
Among the horses Keene showed to Harness championships were Windcrest Sentimental Lady and Sweet Pepper. Keene was also pressed into service for the occasional weanling In Hand classes, or driving Deerfield Leading Lady in the Cavalcade class, or piloting one of his 3 children along in leadline classes. Keene never missed attending at least one day of the New England Morgan Horse show in Northampton, either in support of his family and friends, or in support of friends he just hadn’t met yet. Keene loved a great party and Northampton was always one of his favorite destinations. He would arrive dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate.
Keene was actively involved in the New England Morgan Horse Association, serving on the Board in the 1980s.
Keene also became involved in the operation of Waseeka Kennels, breeders of English Setter, Welsh Corgi and Newfoundland show and companion dogs.
Keene was Regional Sales Manager for the Volkswagen distributor Hansen-McPhee in the mid 1950s before being awarded the local VW franchise in 1958, originally located in Framingham. Keene added Porsche and Audi, which was consolidated as Annis Porsche Audi Volkswagen in Natick, MA, and operated under his name until his retirement in 1992.
He also served on the Atlantic Zone Porsche Audi Dealer Advisory Council.
He was an avid car enthusiast, having raced his Jaguars and AC Bristol throughout the SCCA circuit in the 1950s and early 1960s.
A Rotary member from 1964 Keene was honored to serve as president of the Framingham chapter in 1970. He was also a noted member of the South Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of the South Norfolk Community Services Association.
Keene graduated from the Cambridge School of Weston in 1942, and from Bowdoin College in 1950.
He was a WWII veteran having served from 1943 to 1946 as a US Army Air Force radio operator, stationed in France. He served with the 762nd Army Air Forces Base Unit and with the 132nd Army Airways Service Squadron. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and awarded the America Campaign medal and the World War II Victory medal.
In lieu of flowers contributions in his name may be made to Visiting Nurse Association, 209 W. Central Street, Natick, MA 01760