Earle Raymond McKeever Jr.

Earle Raymond McKeever Jr.
The Music Man, Earle Raymond McKeever Jr., passed on in Eugene, Ore., Feb. 22, 2007. He was the beloved companion of Marolyn Barker, father of Susan Lee McKeever Gill and Michael Raymond McKeever, husband of Polly Howard (deceased), and brother of Don David McKeever. His family includes a son-in-law, Gary Gill, a daughter-in-law, Nancy McKeever, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Earle was born in Allentown, Pa., on Sept. 14, 1918. He was the son of Alva and Earle McKeever, and spent his childhood in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. Earle showed early promise as a musician. As a teenager, he played the trombone in the Cleveland Orchestra, earned the nickname "Duke" McKeever as the leader of his own jazz band (The Commodores), and often performed in Cleveland's old beautiful theatres.
After attending Wittenberg College in Ohio, Earle transferred to the University of Idaho in 1941. He received a BA in Music Education before entering the Army Air Corps, where he served in World War II from 1941-1945. He was privileged to perform, on occasion, with the Glenn Miller Army Band. After the war, he received his Masters Degree from the University of Idaho and an Administrative Degree at Columbia University in New York City.
He married Polly Jane Howard, a pianist and musical soulmate, in Coeur d'Alene on Aug. 8, 1948. That year, Earle accepted his first teaching position and devoted the next 59 years to teaching music. He first taught music in Nampa, where, along with the help of his wife, Polly, he built a robust music program, serving as the Music Supervisor and the Nampa High School Band Director for 20 years. They both taught hundreds of students, as well as their own children. Susan played the piano, flute and cello. She was first chair flute in Earle's high school band, first flute in the All-Northwest Orchestra in 1967, and continued on as a professional musician. Michael played the French Horn in the Eugene Youth Symphony.
Earle had an all-inclusive attitude that everyone could and should be a musician. For years, he charged only $3 a lesson, enabling all of his band students to progress. After school and on Saturdays, one could hear Polly teaching piano upstairs, and Earle teaching all of the band instruments downstairs. The McKeever household was the "Grand Central Station" of music.
During his stay in Nampa, Earle helped build the band department at the new Nampa High School, supported other music teachers, and always had over 100 members in his wonderful bands. He and his dear friend, Chet Peterson, joined forces to build a successful music program in the junior high schools. Every spring, 4th grade elementary classes anticipated Earle arriving with his double-decker cart piled high with all of his band instruments. He patiently helped students try each instrument, encouraging them to join band.
Earle continued teaching in Eugene from 1968-1983. He served as Superintendent of Music Education for the Eugene School District for several years, and taught music in numerous area schools. Following his retirement from the school system, Earle continued teaching private lessons to students of all ages. He was a resource and mentor to countless music teachers in the Willamette Valley and contributed his talents to music programs wherever he could. He was active in the National Association of Music Education, and conducted the US Collegiate University Band for eight summer European tours. In 1985, he received the Distinguished Music Educator Award from the NW Bandmasters Association.
Earle continued as a performer, playing in various musical groups and programs. He was a charter member of the Eugene Symphonic Band, and played with them until 2005.
His family remembers many happy times of uproarious laughter, card games, summers at Hayden Lake, a famous Mt. Rainier hike, family tennis matches, basketball and baseball practice, watching "Mary Tyler Moore" and "Dick Van Dyke," stuffing band music folders on Sunday afternoons followed by food trips to The Red Steer, and sharing many beautiful concerts.
Earle, Dad, Grandpa, you are in our hearts forever. We wish you infinite blessings on your continued journey through Life. We hope you're still practicing your long tones, playing your trombone, and helping a dear student learn the fingerings on instrument. You will be dearly missed by so many. A memorial service open to the public will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in the Great Hall of the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, 868 High St., Eugene, Ore. All are invited to a reception immediately following the service. The family requests that any remembrances be sent to the Shedd Institute for the Arts as a donation to a fund to provide musical instruments for their students.
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