Bobby Ray Keels passed away on October 1, 2023, in Georgetown, Texas. He was 97.
Bob was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma to James Lee Keels and Nannic Gentry Keels on July 26, 1926. His family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the following year. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School and then served in the Army Air Force during World War II. Bob was trained to be a B-24 and B-29 mechanic and served at Guam in the Western Pacific. Bob then attended Oklahoma City University, where he met and married Dorothy Jean Stafford in 1948, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor of science in business. Bob was a 32nd degree Mason and active in the Shrine. He was the leader of the Oriental Band at Hella Temple in Oklahoma City — because he was the only one that could read music.
Bob worked in sales for Capitol Records for 13 years, 10 in the field and three in the home office at Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood, California. The family left California in 1967 to return to Dallas where Bob was in the ice cream business for twenty years, owning a group of Baskin Robbins stores.
Dorothy and Bob were active in the Methodist Church all of their married life with Bob serving on many committees in the church. Dorothy died on July 23, 2007. They were married 59 years. In 2017, Bob and Lynndee Munson were married. They had known each other for many years in their Sunday School Class. The Lord has truly blessed us in our journey together.
Bob is survived by his wife, Lynndee Munson Keels; brother Jim Keels of Temple, Texas; daughter Nancy and her husband, Stephen; son Randy and his wife Joy; five grandsons: Jeremy and his wife Riki; Travis and his wife Jennifer; Danny and his wife Courtney; Chad and his wife Cris and Charlie and his wife Rebecca. Ten Great-Grandchildren: Kate Stafford, Cooper, Campbell, Boone, Parker, Grayson, Collin, Payton Sadler Ray and Micah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bill Jones Scholarship Fund at the First Methodist Church or The Caring Place, both in Georgetown.