Free Spirit - Jean Keene 1923 to 2009

Hi Angie, sorry about that, I had it all typed then opened up the page and found that I wrote too much…so I cut some of the info out and added it to the photo titled ‘The Gathering….for Jean 1-13-2009’. She really was a unique lady with fiery red hair, small but boy did she have spunk right down to her last days (we were just down in Homer and visited with her while we were there), we knew that she had medical issues…but you wouldn’t have known it…she always made sure she was there to take care of her Eagles, it’s amazing how they really and truly trusted and cared for her, it wasn’t unusual to see one or two perched over her yard…we always felt they were watching over her as she watched out for them. I hope that they leave her compound as it is and make it a memorial to her. Thank you!! Take Care.

She truly did, she was a truly remarkable lady….she wanted nothing from anyone and gave all she had to her beloved Eagles. She is now free to soar high with her Eagles of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. THANK YOU!! Take Care.

Oh Sharon, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH…Jean will be soaring with such pride. She was quite a character, people came from all over the world to meet her and photograph her Eagles. Did you ever have the opportunity to take a side trip to Homer, when you lived in Fairbanks? You would have enjoyed meeting her. THANKS AGAIN SO VERY MUCH!! Take Care.

Thank You Sharon, you missed out on a real treat, she was a rare and unique lady. THANKS AGAIN for the featuring of one of my tribute photos in her memory, this would make her so proud. Take Care.

We’ve lived here since January 1978, and I have to admit that the winters are starting to get to us…but the winters do have a beauty all their own, which we admire. You lived in a beautiful area, we’ve been in that area many times (but it’s been a while) but never in the winter months. It’s a whole different world living amongst the wildlife, and no matter how many moose, bears, Eagles, etc., that we see…each and every one is just as exciting as the last. THANK YOU!! Take Care.

Hi Clark, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Take Care.

Hi Heather, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Take Care.

Hi Angie, THANK YOU!! Jean Keene was a spunky little thing, it’s really hard to believe she is gone as we were just visiting with her last Thursday the 8th, before we left Homer. It was a shock to hear on last nights news that she had passed away Tuesday evening. Take Care.

Hi Marvin, THANKS SO MUCH!! We are really glad to know that others enjoy what we’ve captured through a camera lens. Take Care.

OH WOW!! THANKS SO MUCH ANNE…Jean would be so very proud!! _{Here’s to you Jean, a Free Spirit soaring with your Beloved Eagles}

Hi Renee, she was a very unique and generous lady and I am so glad that we got to know her over the years. I tried to put more information about her along with this photo but when I got done writing it, half the info was hidden, so I took some of the info and attached it to another photo title ‘The Gathering…for Jean’ if you are interested in reading that. Also, if you go to http://homernews.com/stories/011409/news_1_002.shtml (hopefully this link brings up Jeans story). Take Care.

Hi Anne, she was quite a woman, spunky to the end…she lived for her Eagles. It was really amazing how we would be there and the Eagles would keep their distance, then Jean would come out and the Eagles would literally flock to her. Some would sit at a perch right at her shoulder, it was amazing the trust that each had for the other, she was a truly unique woman and we are so glad and proud that we knew her. I am hoping that they will leave her site in the campground just as it always was as a memorial to her, as her spirit will always be there with her Eagles. THANK YOU!! Take Care.

Once again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE FEATURE, it is the best dedication and remembrance to Jean.

Hi Lois, THANKS SO MUCH!! I was so shocked last Wednesday night when they announced on the news that she had passed away the night before (13th), we had just visited with her 5 days prior to her passing. Thursday the 8th, she came out and the Eagles flocked closer (one actually hit the end of my camera lens with it’s wing when it flew in to get closer to Jean). They are having a ceremonial feeding of the Eagles this Saturday the 24th at 3PM then there will be a memorial/celebration of life at the Land’s End Hotel (where a booth was dedicated to Jean some years ago)....check out http://www.endofthespit.com and click on the link they have regarding her memorial. They also added a link where people could leave condolences to Jean and her remaining family members, we left a message of condolence. People who never met her have left messages. Rick and I are going back down on the 2nd of February, I made reservations at Land’s End (where we always stay if we stay at a hotel down there) and we are hoping that the feeding will continue by her helper Steve. The Homer City Council (which I also sent an e-mail to) will be meeting on Monday the 24th to decide if the feeding should continue through this winter season since it had already begun (they got loads of e-mails from people saying the feeding should continue), it would be a travesty to stop now as Eagles could die. The Eagles are used to the ritual that they had with Jean, and to stop that now, well hopefully that doesn’t happen. As to what the campground will do with her site (compound) we have no idea, but we are hoping that it will remain as is as a memorial to Jean. They are also collecting money to have a bronze Eagle made as a Memorial to her (we will be donating to that), and I’m hoping that the bronze Eagle will be placed at her compound. Homer will not be the same without Jean, but we will smile whenever we see one of her Eagles flying around….and think that Jean is up there riding the wings of that Eagle. We will keep you posted. THANKS AGAIN!! Take Care.

Hi Lynda, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE VISIT AND COMMENT, much appreciated!! Jean was a truly unique person, she was known world wide, she had a lot of spunk right to the end and Homer will NOT be the same without her around. LOL,I know what you mean, once you start feeding them you want to be around to make sure they are getting enough seeds and peanuts, we have the Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls and Chickadees that visit our feeders. Take Care :-)

Hi Jan, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Take Care :-)

Hi Veronica, THANK YOU!! Take Care :-)

Hi Hawker, WOW!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY KIND AND GENEROUS COMMENT, IT HUMBLES ME!! Take Care :-)

Hi Joanne, THANK YOU!! I took this photo on the 7th of January during our trip to Homer to see Jean and photograph her Eagle’s (we visited with her on the 8th before we headed home, it was our final goodbye as she passed away on the 13th of January) this is one of the three photos that I dedicated in her memory as Jean was truly a Free Spirit and spunky to the end. THANKS AGAIN!! Take Care :-)

Hi, THANK YOU SO MUCH, we will check into your group! Take Care :-)

Hi, THANK YOU!! Take Care :-)

Hi Angela, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your visit and comment!! Jean was an amazing woman, and she had a bond with the Eagles that was amazing, she watched out for them as they watched over her. It was said that when she passed away that an Eagle sat on the perch right at the corner of her compound, the perch was located so that when she sat on her couch she could look straight out her sliding glass doors right at the perch, and the Eagles could look in. We’re hoping that Homer keeps her spirit alive by continuing on with the winter feeders, people from all over the world would go to Homer to meet Jean and to see and photograph her Eagles. They have set up a Memorial Fund hoping to raise money to have a Bronze Eagle with a fish in it’s mouth made that they will place at her compound (I believe) on Homer Spit. She would love that. THANKS AGAIN!! Take Care _Deb :)

Hi Ginger, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! Take Care _Deb :)

Hi Dyle, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! Take Care _Deb :)

Hi ilpo THANK YOU!! Really appreciate it. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)

Hi Paula THANK YOU!! She was a very unique lady….with an amazing passion for her Eagles (you wouldn’t believe the bond that she had with them) because of her, we have had experiences that we would never have dreamed of with the wild Eagles of Kachamak Bay, Homer, AK. Thanks again and Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)

Hi Paula, Jean used to feed the Eagles at 5 AM, then the professional photographers from all over the world heard about her and her Eagles, they got her to change the feeding time for daylight hours and every winter from then on professional photographers (on their own) or with groups/classes (of around 20 or more) have checked into hotels in Homer or on Homer Spit. We have no idea what is going to happen now that Jean has passed away (January 13, 2009) as the city passed an ordinance that they feedings were now to stop (there are those in Homer who want them gone). I did an article (under my writings) about Jean and her Eagles and what is going on, in that writing is an e-mail address for the city clerk, we are hoping that if enough people write to the city clerks office, that they will amend that ordinance and set up continued feedings in Jeans memory for years to come. Thanks so much for your interest….Alaska has so many magnificent Bald Eagles, we would hate for anything to happen to the ones of Kachamak Bay because of the ignorance of some of those who live in Homer. Take Care ~ Deb ~ :)

Paula, here is the link to the story I did (I’ve never added a link before so hope I did it right). http://www.redbubble.com/mybubble/writing/2755332-remembrance-jean-keene-10-20-1923-to-1-13-2009/edit
~ Deb ~ :)

THANK YOU for stopping by and taking the time to do a little reading up on Jean!! You can also find information online about her, just google Jean Keene, you will see photos of her from years ago when she would drag plastic trash bins full of fish parts out along the beach to feed the Eagles. Thanks again ~ Deb ~ :)

Hi Dave & Trena THANKS SO MUCH!! She was a very unique lady, who helped to save the lives of many injured Eagles over the years, she bonded with those Eagles like we do with mans best friend (our dogs), it was amazing to see how the Eagles trusted her….when she came out of her home, some of the Eagles would land at her shoulder, it was amazing!! She is greatly missed by not only the humans whose lives she touched but by her Beloved Eagles (she is most likely taking turns riding on the backs of each and every one of them). Thanks again ~ Deb ~ :)

Hi Pam THANKS SO VERY MUCH for the visit and kind comment, greatly appreciated!! Take Care ~ Deb ~ ☺