Edward Joseph Keer Jr.

Edward Joseph Keer Jr., 80, died Dec. 13, 2010, at VNA Hospice House. He was born in Staten Island, N.Y., and lived in Vero Beach since 1996, coming from Pleasantville, N.Y. He was a veteran of the Navy, having served during the Korean War. He was of the Episcopal faith. He was a volunteer firefighter in Pleasantville and White Plains, N.Y., a Shriner, a worthy patron of the Eastern Star and a member of the Sebastian and White Plains Masonic Lodge. In White Plains, he earned his master Mason degree and served as a former district officer, high priest of the Royal Lodge Chapter, illustrious master and commander. Survivors include his daughters, Kathleen Lustig of Park Ridge, N.J., Patty Ann Huggan of Cummings, Ga., and Margaret Mucci of Hawthorne, N.Y.; sons, Michael Lustig of Park Ridge, N.J., and Edward J. Keer III of Yorktown, N.Y.; sister, Elsie Quintero of Vero Beach; brother, Albert Keer of Shippensburg, Pa.; companion, Martha Stucker of Vero Beach; nine grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy Keer; son, Dennis Keer; sister, Ellen Russo; and brother, Herbert Keer. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society Indian River County Unit, 3375 20th St., Suite 100, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Services: Visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 17, with a funeral service to follow at 5 p.m. at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.