Sikeston man details his marriage proposal to state rep

State Rep. Shelley Keeney reacts after her longtime boyfriend, Justin Taylor of Sikeston, proposed to her Friday during the last annual session of the Missouri House of Representatives at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City.

Justin Taylor will marry Rep. Shelley Keeney of Marble Hill

SIKESTON -- Sikeston resident Justin Taylor ended the Missouri House of Representative's annual legislative session on a happy note Friday after proposing to his longtime girlfriend, State Rep. Shelley Keeney of Marble Hill.

Taylor, who is the president of the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce and a financial adviser at Edward Jones, had dated Keeney a little over two years when he decided it was time to ask for her hand in marriage.

"I've been trying to map this out in my mind and plan out how I wanted to do this," Taylor said of his proposal.

Keeney was elected to the House in 2008 and is currently the majority caucus chair.

"She has been at the dais all legislative session," Taylor said, adding that's why he wanted to propose to her at the Capitol. "... I decided to do it the last day of the session -- just drive up to Jefferson City and surprise her."

Taylor said he had the moment tentatively planned, and he'd even talked to Missouri House Speaker John Diehl to make the arrangements.

For the full story, see Thursday's e-edition.