April Dawn Pierson-Keating, 52, of Buckhannon, W.Va., died Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, W.Va.

She was born April 27, 1967, in Charleston, W.Va., a daughter of the late Derek and Iris White Bell.

She is survived by her husband, Bernard Keating of Buckhannon; two sons, Pierson Keating of North Hollywood, Calif. and Thomas Keating of Buckhannon; one daughter, Laura Keating of Boston, Mass.; four sisters, Liz Bell of Mich., Terry Bell of Ypsilanti, Mich., Laura Pierson of Chicago, Ill. and Karin Pierson of Traverse City, Mich. and a companion, Kevin Campbell of Adrian, W.Va.

Mrs. Pierson-Keating is the founder of the Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance, the Buckhannon Riverfest and a founding member of POWHR (Preserve Our Water Heritage and Rights). She was a board member of the Buckhannon River Watershed Association, a board member of ICARE which is a cancer research group, a board member of the W.Va. Environmental Council, a member of the Sierra Club, the W.Va. Highlands Conservancy and the Ohio Valley Environmental Council.

Mrs. Pierson-Keating received the Buckhannon BEST Award on May 14, 2019. In addition to her accomplishments listed above, Mayor McCauley stated this in his City’s BEST Award proclamation, “Mrs. Keating is a supreme protector of our environment. She is a lobbyist for clean water at both our state & federal governments, a participant in Buckhannon’s Community Unity & Kindness Day, the Equality march, the Science march, and other awareness activities. April is a fervent advocate for clean energy adoption and acceleration, a charter member of Create Buckhannon and a member of SUBA. April Keating has helped us all in our B-U community to be happier and healthier in many ways.”

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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