Gary Ray Keeler

Gary Ray Keeler passed away February 28, 2016 at his home in Mexico, where he has lived with his wife Jean for 12 years. He was born June 9, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah. When he was 16 he moved to Las Vegas and then to San Diego. Gary was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young man he served a Spanish-speaking mission in Mexico for 2 1/2 years. He served diligently in many callings, including a High Counselor for 18 years and a bishop in Springdale, Arkansas for 5 years. Most recently he has been a Sunday School teacher. Gary attended Brigham Young University prior to his mission and at age 36 received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Indiana University. He worked as an industrial engineer, mostly in the airplane industry, and finished his career at Simmons poultry. While living in Washington County, Arkansas, he served 2 terms as the justice of the peace. He was the first Republican elected since the Civil War and the local newspaper called him "the voice of reason." Gary is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jean Keeler, a daughter D'Onn Genovese (Encinitas, California), a brother James Keeler (Salt Lake City, Utah), a stepson Lee Misnor (Victorivlle, California), and many nephews and nieces.