Tamara Saline Keen

Tamara S. "Tammy" Keen, age 59, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Tammy was born July 12, 1963 in Riverside, California, a daughter of Gerald and Jenney (King) Downey. When she was young her family moved to St. Louis, MO where she grew up and attended school. She worked in St. Louis until 1988 when she moved to Marion, IL. She attended John A. Logan College where she acquired an Associates Degree and worked there in Administration. From 1995 to 2016 she worked at SIU with Disability Support Services as Assistant to the Administrator. She has worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for the past 6 years as a Claims Processor. Tammy enjoyed spending time and playing board games with her grandchildren, reading and word puzzles.

She is survived by her daughter, Brandy Parson (Kyle Stevens) of Herrin, IL; two grandchildren, Isaiah Parrish and Khlowie Parrish; two great-grandchildren, Elleyet Thomason and Ezmae Flute; and four siblings, Faith "Tootie" Penley of Herrin, IL, Sheri (Steve) Penley Sr. of Marion, IL, William "Scott" Downey of WI, and Brett (Shannon) Downey of WV. She is preceded in death by her parents, Gerald Downey and Jenney Allgaier and one brother, Chuck Downey.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Mitchell Hughes Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 11:00 AM at Mitchell Hughes Funeral Home with Rev. Keith Owens officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Nub Ability Athletics.