Kirtland Kenneth Keeler

Kirtland Kenneth Keeler, Jr. passed away on Monday, January 17, 2011 just two months shy of his 92^nd birthday.  A memorial service will be held in Long Beach, Washington at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at a time to be announced.  ARRANGEMENTS BY J. HENRY STUHR, INC. MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. Ken was born March 29, 1919 in Spokane, Washington to Lois and Kirtland Keeler.  He grew up in Spokane and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School, where he learned to play the pipe organ.  As a young man, he was employed at the Davenport Hotel as a pageboy, and remained a friend of the Davenport for the rest of his life.  While in high school he met the love of his life, Patricia Margaret Tenglund.  They were married on October 13, 1941 and raised four children. Less than two months after they were married, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in WWII.  He was stationed in Cuba and Charleston, SC, working with ship convoys across the Atlantic. After returning from the war, he went to work for The Old National Bank and studied at Gonzaga University in Spokane, where he helped form a Naval Reserve unit.  When the Korean Conflict broke out, Ken was called back to active duty and served on Minesweeper in Japan.  Upon returning home he worked in Pasco, WA before moving to Longview, WA where he worked for Interstate Tractor and the National Bank of Commerce.  Ken was also active in the Naval Reserve unit in Longview. While working for the National Bank of Commerce, Ken was transferred to the Long Beach Peninsula and worked at the Ilwaco branch for several years.  He retired from Raymond Federal Savings and Loan.  While living at the beach, he remained active in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Senior Chief Yeoman in 1979. Ken was not idle in retirement.  He was active in many organizations, such as PRIDE, Peninsula Art Association, PACE, Adult Education, Friends of the Library and a local theater group.  He and Patricia served on the boards of most of these organizations for years.  He also stayed busy whipping up gourmet meals, gardening, and spending time at the beach.  He was an avid artist, and won many juried art shows, well into his eighties. Ken served as the President of the Ilwaco Chamber of Commerce, the Long Beach Lions Club and the Peninsula Christian Council of Churches.  He is survived by son, Kenneth, of Sandpoint, ID and daughter Karol Queen and her husband, Bruce, of Charleston, SC.  He is also survived by five grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.  Ken was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia, his oldest daughter, Karen Kristine Keeler Hoffmann, his youngest son, Kevin Keith Keeler, granddaughters, Kelly Ann Hebert and Kimberly Queen-Post, and a great-grandson, Matthew Post. The family asks in lieu of flowers, remembrances be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 5000 North Place, Seaview, WA 98644 or St. Andrews Church - Mt. Pleasant, 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC  29464.  Remembrances can also be made to The United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 123, Washington, DC, 20004-2608.