Eloise Mcdill Mckeown

Mrs. Ella Louise ?Eloise? McDill McKeown of Blackstock, South Carolina died peacefully at the home of her niece in Grandview, Tennessee, on Sunday, September 19, 2010, surrounded by her family.She was 101 years old. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, September 26 at Cornwell Presbyterian Church in Blackstock, South Carolina with Rev. Oscar Burdette and Rev. Tim Foster officiating.Burial will follow in the McKeown family cemetery.The family will receive visitors on Saturday, September 25 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Barron Funeral Home in Chester, South Carolina. Born in the family home in Chester County on June 22, 1909, she was the daughter of Robert Brice McDill and Helen Robinson McDill. She was one of five children, all of whom spent their lives in Chester. Following her marriage in 1944 to James S. McKeown, she moved to his family home place in Blackstock, SC where she lived until last year when she moved to Palmetto Village in Chester, SC. As a young woman, she waitressed at resorts in New York, North Carolina and Florida, serving dignitaries and Hollywood stars. During the Second World War, she worked as a supervisor in a war munitions plant. Following the war, she was hired by Belk?s Department Store in Chester, where she worked in the business office until her retirement.Affectionately called ?E? by her family, Mrs. McKeown was a long-time member of Cornwell Presbyterian Church, and was known in the community for her lovely needlework, delicious cooking, gracious entertaining and devoted service to others. She was preceded in death by her husband James McKeown, to whom she was married for 56 years, an infant son, sisters Katharine McDill Plyler and Sarah McDill Dixon, brothers Robert McDill and Isreal McDill, nieces Anna Clark Plyler Bourne of Grandview, TN and Charlotte Plyler Lee of Manning, SC and nephew Floyd Watson Dixon, Jr. of Richburg, SC.She is survived by her nieces Helen Plyler Waller of Durham, NC, Sara Ann Dixon Presley of Ocala, FL and Sarah Kirkpatrick Dixon of Richburg, SC; great-nieces Kathy Dixon Small of High Point, NC, Linda Pressley LaSelva of Ocala, FL, Katharine Lee Fickling of Manning, SC, Karen Waller of Alexandria, VA, Brenda Bourne of Santa Cruz, CA, and Ilaeka Bourne Villa of Grandview, TN; and great-nephews George Dixon of Richburg, SC, Mark Waller of Durham, NC, Capers Lee of Manning, SC, David Lee of Manning, SC and Mark Lee of Manning, SC and nineteen direct great-great nieces and nephews. Her family wishes to thank the entire McKeown family including her late husband?s nephew Samuel McKeown of Blackstock, SC,cousins William McKeown of Blackstock, SC and Harry McKeown of Fort Worth, TX and the many other relatives, caretakers and friends who lovingly offered friendship and care throughout the past several years. The family also appreciates the assistance of Louis Lockett of Blackstock, SC who worked for Mrs. McKeown for many years. Local funeral arrangements are by Barron Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be sent to the Cornwell Presbyterian Church, 2208 Columbia Highway, Blackstock, SC 29014, or to a charity of choice.