Douglas Hobart Keefer

1935 - 2012

Douglas Hobart Keefer went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Fort Worth. Funeral: 4 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Poolville, the Rev. Christopher Keefer officiating. Interment: 9 a.m. Friday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. He was born July 23, 1935, in Baltimore, Md., to William Hobart Keefer and Florence Roughton Keefer. Doug graduated from high school in Reisterstown, Md., earned a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Maryland in 1958, an M.S. in nuclear physics from the University of Miami in 1968, another M.S. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1975, and a Ph.D. from UTD in environmental science/nuclear physics in 1976. He was in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1952 to 1958, attended Officer Candidate School at the Coast Guard Academy, and graduated in 1959 as an ensign. After entering the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps in 1959 and serving 20 years, he retired at the rank of commander in 1979. Dr. Keefer was one of the original members of the Environmental Protection Agency, and received a Presidential Letter of Commendation in 1965 for his work on radio strontium in American milk supplies resulting from above-ground nuclear testing. He served in several states to ensure clean drinking water, safe disposal of radioactive materials, and the prevention of nuclear accidents. Upon retiring, Doug began a consulting firm that licensed the use and users of radioactive materials. The most important thing that Doug ever did was to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior; he was a member of First Baptist Church, Poolville. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Douglas Keefer was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors: He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Darla Jane Misener Keefer of Fort Worth; daughters, Heather (Christopher) John of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Noelle (Rex) Nelson of Bowie, Md., and Katharine (Michael) Taylor of Katy,; son, Christopher (Shellie) Keefer of Fort Worth; brother, Dr. Donald (Mandy) Keefer of Lutherville, Md.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.