KULPMONT - Raymond L. "Rookie" Keefer, 84, of Serenity Gardens Assisted Living for the past two months and formerly of East Cameron Township, passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at Mount Carmel Senior Living Community, where he was a guest the past two weeks.
Born in West Cameron Township, May 15, 1927, he was a son of the late William A. and Esther M. (Dreibelbis) Keefer.
He was married Feb. 14, 1947, to the former Beatrice M. Weikel, who preceded him in death in July 1991.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from July 1945 to January 1947.
He lived most of his life in East Cameron Township and was a retired coal miner.
Raymond was a member of Herndon Lodge 702 Free and Accepted Masons, Trevorton American Legion Post 92, Trevorton VFW Post 7813 and a life member of East Cameron Township Fire Company.
Survivors include four daughters, Christine Keefer, of Shamokin; Trudy Hauer, of Coal Township; Nancy Hornberger and her husband, Bob, of West Cameron Township, and Marie Richardson and her husband, David, of Virginia Beach, Va.; two sons, Terry Keefer and his wife, Debra, of Coal Township, and Ray Keefer and his wife, Sherri, of West Cameron Township; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a companion, Rosemary Long, of Trevorton; one brother, Clinton R. Keefer and his companion, Shirley Snook, of Selinsgrove, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred E. Weikel and Ida C. Ross; two half-sisters, Goldie Black and Helen Lowe; five brothers, Thomas A. Keefer, Lawrence A. Keefer, Bruce C. Keefer, Clyde J. Keefer and Daniel W. Keefer; two half-brothers, Harry B. Keefer and John W. Keefer.
KEEFER - Raymond L. "Rookie" Keefer, 84, of Serenity Gardens Assisted Living, Kulpmont, and formerly of East Cameron Township. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Robert G. Foust Jr. Funeral Home, 841 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, with Pastor Dave Butler officiating. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Gowen City. Contributions may be made in his memory to East Cameron Township Fire Company, 5239 Upper Road, Shamokin 17872.