Charles Nolan Keeler

1910 - 2002

POWELL, Wyo. - Charles Nolan Keeler, a 57-year resident of Powell, died at the Powell Nursing Home on Sept. 20, 2002, almost a month after his 92nd birthday.

He was born Aug. 24, 1910, in Burnham, Mo., the son of Louise Black and William Keeler. He spent the first 30 years of his life in Missouri, and on June 15, 1940, he married Ruby Smith in Cushing, Okla.

In 1945, the couple moved to Wyoming, where he went to work for Standard Oil and Gas Company. He and his wife lived in the Elk Basin Oil Field near Powell for nine years. Their children, Nolan and Carla, were born while they were living in Elk Basin. Later, they moved their Elk Basin home to Powell. He retired from Amoco Oil Company after 29 years of service.

He was a master gardener, and his neighbors will remember the generous sharing of the vegetable plants he grew in his greenhouse and the produce, especially tomatoes, that he grew in his large garden. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He and his wife of 62 years were active participants in the Powell Senior Citizen Center. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church.

All of his children and most of his grandchildren visited him in August shortly before he became seriously ill.

He is survived by his wife; son Nolan of Powell; and daughters, Glenna D'Amico and husband Lou of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Carla Essex and husband Ross of Mobridge, S.D.; and a son-in-law, Don Engen of Billings, Mont.

He is also survived by a sister, Clara Havens and husband Will of Ava, Mo.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers; four sisters; and two daughters, Charlene Engen and an infant daughter.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home. Services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m., at the First Southern Baptist Church in Powell, with visitation one hour prior to the 2 p.m. service. Memorials may be made to the Powell Valley Hospice, the Powell Senior Citizen Center or the First Southern Baptist Church.