"Junior" was born September 24, 1932 in Corsicana, Texas. He passed away on March 6, 2023 in San Saba, Texas a few months after his 90th birthday, leaving many devastated family and friends. He was the sixth of seven children born to Henry Washington Keele and Effie May Oldham who were both descendants of pioneers from the area.
In 1858 Junior's great grandfather Maston Green Clay Keele bought a ranch at Rocky Shoals in San Saba County, which is the present-day Sloan area. They eventually left due to continual problems with indians and lawlessness, moving to Bell County. His grandfather Cullender Keele moved to the same area in later years, as well. Junior's parents moved the family back in 1944. Henry went to work for John Arhelger and later opened a blacksmith shop just off the square in town. Junior would spend many of his childhood and adult years hereafter in San Saba. His first job was at Brown's Grocery when he was 12.
He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, and was most proud of serving his country. He joined the Army in January 1956 and completed basic training in Fort Ord, California in June 1956 before being deployed to Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York and Fairbanks, Alaska. Having worked much for his older brothers Claude and Darrell, he loved cars. He went on to work as a mechanic for the Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, after graduating from mechanic's school second out of 50. He learned a lot, the Army way, of course. Junior greatly enjoyed telling stories about his army days and other life experiences, and never ran short of a good many to tell. He also loved to spend his time making the rounds around town checking on his friends, listening to country music (particularly Ray Price, Steve Earle, and Bobby Bare), tending to his beloved pets, cooking, fishing, and being with his family.
He was married to Kay Francis Farquhar on April 8,1960 at Brother Bill White's house on Storey Street in San Saba, Texas. They met at a country dance at Izora schoolhouse in Lampasas County. Her Uncle Red Barrett had a band and he introduced Junior and Kay at that time. They were the parents of two daughters: Vicki Laine Keele Brown and Stacey Lynn Keele Dame. After he and Kay lived in various places over the years, they returned home to San Saba in 1984 and built Keele Garage on Highway 16 south of town. Throughout his years at the shop, he made many friends and repaired a lot more vehicles. He sold the shop and retired in 2003. Sadly, he lost Vicki, his first-born daughter in 2010 and his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Kay in 2018. However, in 2020 at the age of 88, he found love again with an old friend, Sharon Hayes, and they married in San Saba on May 29, 2021. They enjoyed many happy times together.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Vicki Laine Keele Brown of Arizona, his first wife, Kay F. Keele, and his parents Henry and Effie Keele. Also preceding him are sisters Lola Crocker, Dimple Cates, Marion Harper and Jimmie Lou Scroggins, and brothers Darrell Keele and Claude Keele, and other relatives.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Hayes Keele of San Saba, daughter and her husband Stacey and Steve Dame of San Saba, grandsons Joel Robbins and Kevin Moore of Dallas, Texas, brother-in-law Neal Farquhar of Bertram, Texas, sister-in-law Donna Farquhar Bradshaw of Burnet, Texas, sister-in-law Doreen Keele of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and son-in-law Mark Brown of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Bonus children surviving him are Ben and Fanchon Hayes of Wimberly, Texas, Joy and Brian Gates of Goldthwaite, Texas, and bonus grandchildren Valerie, Merry, and Ronan. Additionally, he leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends, who will all miss him greatly.
In 1858 Junior's great grandfather Maston Green Clay Keele bought a ranch at Rocky Shoals in San Saba County, which is the present-day Sloan area. They eventually left due to continual problems with indians and lawlessness, moving to Bell County. His grandfather Cullender Keele moved to the same area in later years, as well. Junior's parents moved the family back in 1944. Henry went to work for John Arhelger and later opened a blacksmith shop just off the square in town. Junior would spend many of his childhood and adult years hereafter in San Saba. His first job was at Brown's Grocery when he was 12.
He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, and was most proud of serving his country. He joined the Army in January 1956 and completed basic training in Fort Ord, California in June 1956 before being deployed to Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York and Fairbanks, Alaska. Having worked much for his older brothers Claude and Darrell, he loved cars. He went on to work as a mechanic for the Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, after graduating from mechanic's school second out of 50. He learned a lot, the Army way, of course. Junior greatly enjoyed telling stories about his army days and other life experiences, and never ran short of a good many to tell. He also loved to spend his time making the rounds around town checking on his friends, listening to country music (particularly Ray Price, Steve Earle, and Bobby Bare), tending to his beloved pets, cooking, fishing, and being with his family.
He was married to Kay Francis Farquhar on April 8,1960 at Brother Bill White's house on Storey Street in San Saba, Texas. They met at a country dance at Izora schoolhouse in Lampasas County. Her Uncle Red Barrett had a band and he introduced Junior and Kay at that time. They were the parents of two daughters: Vicki Laine Keele Brown and Stacey Lynn Keele Dame. After he and Kay lived in various places over the years, they returned home to San Saba in 1984 and built Keele Garage on Highway 16 south of town. Throughout his years at the shop, he made many friends and repaired a lot more vehicles. He sold the shop and retired in 2003. Sadly, he lost Vicki, his first-born daughter in 2010 and his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Kay in 2018. However, in 2020 at the age of 88, he found love again with an old friend, Sharon Hayes, and they married in San Saba on May 29, 2021. They enjoyed many happy times together.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Vicki Laine Keele Brown of Arizona, his first wife, Kay F. Keele, and his parents Henry and Effie Keele. Also preceding him are sisters Lola Crocker, Dimple Cates, Marion Harper and Jimmie Lou Scroggins, and brothers Darrell Keele and Claude Keele, and other relatives.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Hayes Keele of San Saba, daughter and her husband Stacey and Steve Dame of San Saba, grandsons Joel Robbins and Kevin Moore of Dallas, Texas, brother-in-law Neal Farquhar of Bertram, Texas, sister-in-law Donna Farquhar Bradshaw of Burnet, Texas, sister-in-law Doreen Keele of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and son-in-law Mark Brown of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Bonus children surviving him are Ben and Fanchon Hayes of Wimberly, Texas, Joy and Brian Gates of Goldthwaite, Texas, and bonus grandchildren Valerie, Merry, and Ronan. Additionally, he leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends, who will all miss him greatly.
"Junior" was born September 24, 1932 in Corsicana, Texas. He passed away on March 6, 2023 in San Saba, Texas a few months after his 90th birthday, leaving many devastated family and friends. He was the sixth of seven children born to Henry Washington Keele and Effie May Oldham who were both descendants of pioneers from the area.
In 1858 Junior's great grandfather Maston Green Clay Keele bought a ranch at Rocky Shoals in San Saba County, which is the present-day Sloan area. They eventually left due to continual problems with indians and lawlessness, moving to Bell County. His grandfather Cullender Keele moved to the same area in later years, as well. Junior's parents moved the family back in 1944. Henry went to work for John Arhelger and later opened a blacksmith shop just off the square in town. Junior would spend many of his childhood and adult years hereafter in San Saba. His first job was at Brown's Grocery when he was 12.
He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, and was most proud of serving his country. He joined the Army in January 1956 and completed basic training in Fort Ord, California in June 1956 before being deployed to Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York and Fairbanks, Alaska. Having worked much for his older brothers Claude and Darrell, he loved cars. He went on to work as a mechanic for the Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, after graduating from mechanic's school second out of 50. He learned a lot, the Army way, of course. Junior greatly enjoyed telling stories about his army days and other life experiences, and never ran short of a good many to tell. He also loved to spend his time making the rounds around town checking on his friends, listening to country music (particularly Ray Price, Steve Earle, and Bobby Bare), tending to his beloved pets, cooking, fishing, and being with his family.
He was married to Kay Francis Farquhar on April 8,1960 at Brother Bill White's house on Storey Street in San Saba, Texas. They met at a country dance at Izora schoolhouse in Lampasas County. Her Uncle Red Barrett had a band and he introduced Junior and Kay at that time. They were the parents of two daughters: Vicki Laine Keele Brown and Stacey Lynn Keele Dame. After he and Kay lived in various places over the years, they returned home to San Saba in 1984 and built Keele Garage on Highway 16 south of town. Throughout his years at the shop, he made many friends and repaired a lot more vehicles. He sold the shop and retired in 2003. Sadly, he lost Vicki, his first-born daughter in 2010 and his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Kay in 2018. However, in 2020 at the age of 88, he found love again with an old friend, Sharon Hayes, and they married in San Saba on May 29, 2021. They enjoyed many happy times together.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Vicki Laine Keele Brown of Arizona, his first wife, Kay F. Keele, and his parents Henry and Effie Keele. Also preceding him are sisters Lola Crocker, Dimple Cates, Marion Harper and Jimmie Lou Scroggins, and brothers Darrell Keele and Claude Keele, and other relatives.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Hayes Keele of San Saba, daughter and her husband Stacey and Steve Dame of San Saba, grandsons Joel Robbins and Kevin Moore of Dallas, Texas, brother-in-law Neal Farquhar of Bertram, Texas, sister-in-law Donna Farquhar Bradshaw of Burnet, Texas, sister-in-law Doreen Keele of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and son-in-law Mark Brown of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Bonus children surviving him are Ben and Fanchon Hayes of Wimberly, Texas, Joy and Brian Gates of Goldthwaite, Texas, and bonus grandchildren Valerie, Merry, and Ronan. Additionally, he leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends, who will all miss him greatly.
In 1858 Junior's great grandfather Maston Green Clay Keele bought a ranch at Rocky Shoals in San Saba County, which is the present-day Sloan area. They eventually left due to continual problems with indians and lawlessness, moving to Bell County. His grandfather Cullender Keele moved to the same area in later years, as well. Junior's parents moved the family back in 1944. Henry went to work for John Arhelger and later opened a blacksmith shop just off the square in town. Junior would spend many of his childhood and adult years hereafter in San Saba. His first job was at Brown's Grocery when he was 12.
He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend, and was most proud of serving his country. He joined the Army in January 1956 and completed basic training in Fort Ord, California in June 1956 before being deployed to Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York and Fairbanks, Alaska. Having worked much for his older brothers Claude and Darrell, he loved cars. He went on to work as a mechanic for the Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, after graduating from mechanic's school second out of 50. He learned a lot, the Army way, of course. Junior greatly enjoyed telling stories about his army days and other life experiences, and never ran short of a good many to tell. He also loved to spend his time making the rounds around town checking on his friends, listening to country music (particularly Ray Price, Steve Earle, and Bobby Bare), tending to his beloved pets, cooking, fishing, and being with his family.
He was married to Kay Francis Farquhar on April 8,1960 at Brother Bill White's house on Storey Street in San Saba, Texas. They met at a country dance at Izora schoolhouse in Lampasas County. Her Uncle Red Barrett had a band and he introduced Junior and Kay at that time. They were the parents of two daughters: Vicki Laine Keele Brown and Stacey Lynn Keele Dame. After he and Kay lived in various places over the years, they returned home to San Saba in 1984 and built Keele Garage on Highway 16 south of town. Throughout his years at the shop, he made many friends and repaired a lot more vehicles. He sold the shop and retired in 2003. Sadly, he lost Vicki, his first-born daughter in 2010 and his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Kay in 2018. However, in 2020 at the age of 88, he found love again with an old friend, Sharon Hayes, and they married in San Saba on May 29, 2021. They enjoyed many happy times together.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Vicki Laine Keele Brown of Arizona, his first wife, Kay F. Keele, and his parents Henry and Effie Keele. Also preceding him are sisters Lola Crocker, Dimple Cates, Marion Harper and Jimmie Lou Scroggins, and brothers Darrell Keele and Claude Keele, and other relatives.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Hayes Keele of San Saba, daughter and her husband Stacey and Steve Dame of San Saba, grandsons Joel Robbins and Kevin Moore of Dallas, Texas, brother-in-law Neal Farquhar of Bertram, Texas, sister-in-law Donna Farquhar Bradshaw of Burnet, Texas, sister-in-law Doreen Keele of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and son-in-law Mark Brown of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Bonus children surviving him are Ben and Fanchon Hayes of Wimberly, Texas, Joy and Brian Gates of Goldthwaite, Texas, and bonus grandchildren Valerie, Merry, and Ronan. Additionally, he leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends, who will all miss him greatly.
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