CMSgt (Retired) Alfred Eugene "Gene" Keeler, proud native son of Lawton, Oklahoma, died at age 99 on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center where he had been a resident for several months.  He was born November 8, 1925, at Fort Sill Station Hospital, first child and only son of Army Sgt. Alfred Taylor Keeler and wife, Grace Cerday Keeler.  He was raised in Lawton and attended Lawton Public Schools, graduating and being recognized as a member of the Lawton High School class of 1944.

He left school at age 17 to enlist in the United States Navy to join military efforts in World War II in defense of our nation.  After basic training, he was assigned to Radioman school and served in the Pacific with the 1st Marine Division landing on Tarawa with responsibility for ship to shore Command communications. He also saw action at Midway where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart

He was discharged from the Navy at the end of WWII but remained a member of the Naval Reserve.  On January 1, 1946, he married the girl he met and fell in love with when they were young, Mary Gwin of Oilton, Oklahoma. They welcomed their firstborn, daughter Mary Ellen, in November 1946, middle child, daughter Cheryl Jean, in 1950, and youngest daughter, Debra Elise, in 1955.  After working as a telegrapher for the St. Louis- San Francisco Railroad for several years, he joined the United States Air Force and continued his military career for the next 31 years in defense of freedom and liberty.

During this time, he achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and was one of the first NCOs to be assigned to the Atlas Missile Program at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, and later reassigned to the program's test and launch program at Vandenburg AFB, California. Upon returning to Sheppard AFB, he was named Sergeant Major of the 82nd Air Training Command Wing and then transferred in that role to Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Upon retiring from the Air Force, he was able to use his military experience and worked as a logistics engineer and project director for several major defense industry contractors across the country.  He worked his final civilian job as Logistics Manager for the U.S. Navy Avionics Center in Indianapolis after which he returned home to enjoy his growing family.

He became Grandpa "PawPaw" to a trio of grandchildren, Robert, Leslie and Amanda Gresham. And Great PawPaw to a quintet, Hannah Joyelle Atwa, Aiden Jackson Gresham, Gabriel Preston Sandoval, Ciaran Quinn Gresham and Levi Brixton Sandoval. He actively participated in their lives and shared his love of books, music, nature and writing and encouraged their curiosity and creativity. They all survive him and will greatly miss his presence in their lives.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Mary, in 2020, and his eldest daughter, Ellen in 2002.  His sister, Frances, who he affectionately called since her birth "Sugar" also predeceased him. He is survived by daughter, Cheryl Gresham and husband, Arnold, and daughter Debra Tracey, all of Wichita Falls, Texas; Robert Gresham and wife, Jamie of Ft.Worth, Texas; Leslie Gresham; and Amanda Gresham and husband, Manuel Sandoval of Wichita Falls, Texas;  his sister, Lois Krauss, of Richardson, Texas; nephews Stephen Anderson, Allen Curry and Roddy Curry, and George Fair; and nieces Lori Anderson, Angela Curry, Candice Curry and Susan Fair.

The family will greet friends from 12:00 P.M. to 12:30 P.M. Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 12:30 P.M. followed by Final Salute and interment with full military honors at the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com