Obituary
Veteran Alvin Lavel Keely, 87, of Maysville and Guymon, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday afternoon, March 13, 2021 at the Heritage Community Manor in Guymon.
The son of Lavon Artie “Buck” and Monty Ree (Pullen) Keely, he was born January 31, 1934 in Geary, Oklahoma. Alvin graduated in 1953 from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City where he lettered in wresting and met his future wife, Donna Wilson. The two married right out of high school before heading to Germany where Alvin served in the U.S. Army.
When he was discharged he began his construction career and pursued his true passion saddle breaking horses. He settled in Los Banos, California on Badger Flat Ranch where they started a family. When the fifth child arrived he packed up the family to return home to Oklahoma. They settled on 80 acres in Wanette, Oklahoma where he raised horses. Alvin and Donna later divorced and he moved to Purcell before settling in Maysville on his farm with his wife Marlyn Rogers, where he raised his pride and joy, Supreme, a black stallion.
His construction career kept him on the road traveling coast to coast with each new assignment. He was the Project Superintendent for Parkway Construction before going out on his own as a General Contractor. If you have eaten at a Burger King, Chili’s, Taco Bueno or TGIFridays, you have seen his handiwork. His two sons joined him in the construction field as teenagers before branching out on their own.
Alvin not only worked hard, he played hard. He was an avid sportsman with an eight pound bass, eight point buck and numerous Alaskan king and coho salmon to his name. He visited Alaska three summers to fish salmon and halibut with his daughter. He also enjoyed hunting with his sons and grandson for pheasant and turkey.
If you knew Alvin, he had probably beaten you at pool more than once. He played pool in the manor where he lived on a table donated by a friend’s family. He spent hours a day hustling a game with staff, visitors and his own grandchildren. He even let them win once or twice.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlyn Rogers, his parents Buck and Monty Ree Keely, and four siblings, Ronnie Keely, Monty “Butch” Keely, Eileen Cockran and Oleta Wohnoutka.
Survivors include two sons, John Robert Keely and wife, Tajuana of Purcell, Oklahoma, Alvin Lavon “Hoot” Keely and wife Margie of Wayne, Oklahoma, and three daughters, Julie Christine Vallance and husband, Chris of Springfield, Missouri, Monty Jean Smith of Guymon, Oklahoma and Cindy Jan Burchfield and husband, Kevin of Juneau, Alaska. Survivors also include numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted Thursday afternoon, March 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, Oklahoma with Pastor Steve Gardner officiating. Services are under the care of the Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.