Retha Keck

Our Lord Jesus welcomed his daughter, Retha Keck, home on Sunday, November 16, 2025.  She was born to Robert and Nancy Edmonds on October 29, 1932 in Pitt County, North Carolina at her home.  As a share-cropper’s daughter during the Great Depression, there was no lack of hard work – creating an intense work ethic, and she continued in this vein until her death.  In her 93 years on this earth, Retha lived an adventurous and loving life.  She was little in stature, but oh so large in personality.  Even all animals were drawn to her, and she loved and cared for them all.

A woman fierce in her belief in God and the love for her family (and, at 93, she had outlived most of her contemporaries), she adopted and loved all of her children’s friends and families.  This is most evident here today.  She was instrumental in bringing her daughter Jennifer to her faith in Jesus.

Retha married Louis Kenneth Keck on June 29, 1957 in Tipton County, Tennessee and began the life of a Marine Officer’s Wife.  This involved moving her family across country about every 3 years.  They used to call her the General because she was the only one who could tell the Colonel what to do.

In her early years, she applied to the FBI and they came calling for her 3 times, and 3 times her mother told them no.  Retha went on to become a telephone switchboard operator and her role in introducing the inter-toll dialing system to the East Coast was influential.  In her later years, Retha spent her time maintaining her home, animals, farm and family.  She was still doing manual labor at 93.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Nancy Edmonds; her husband, Louis Kenneth Keck; her sisters, Carlene, Deanie and Dinah; and her brother, Wiley.

She is survived by her son, Donald Frank Keck; daughter, Suzanne and her husband David Crafton and his children, Michael and family, Carter and his wife, and Kenny; daughter, Jennifer and her husband Mark Gilbow and their son, Christopher and his wife.  She is also survived by her sister, Janie and her husband Colin Brown; and brother, Bill Edmonds.  She leaves behind many other family members – those by blood, by marriage and by choice and she loved you all.  Thank you for loving her – however, we are the lucky ones to have been loved by her.

Until we see you again in God’s kingdom, thank you for your unconditional love and life well spent.  You have been a guiding light to many.  You have taught us to love, forgive and not sweat the small stuff.  You taught us to love our Lord, our Family and our Nation.  We are blessed and privileged to call you Mom.  Thank you for a job well done and being a good and faithful servant.

The family will receive friends between 6 and 7 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.  Funeral services honoring Retha’s life will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2025 at City View Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Ferris, officiating.  Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Owens &. Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in honor of Retha to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4400 Cypress Ave. Wichita Falls, TX 76310 (howf.org)

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com

Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God.  Look around and serve God.  Look within and find God. ~Amen