Jerald KELLER

1949 - 2025

It's with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Jerald (Jerry) Keller on January 9, 2025.

Jerry was born in Spokane, WA, on September 26, 1949, to Walter and Ruth Keller. He attended Brown Elementary, where he was proud to be a "Brown Bear" and could still recite the fight song to the day he died. He then attended Glover Junior High and graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1967. Following high school he attended Spokane Falls Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree. He graduated from the Spokane Police Academy in 1973, and went on to serve the city of Spokane for the next 37 years as a Patrol Officer, Corporal and retired as a Detective in 2009. In his work as a detective he was assigned to the Crimes Against Person Unit. Jerry was then appointed to the Sexual Exploitation Unit where he was instrumental in starting the tracking of registered sex offenders and the Internet Crimes Against Children Program. In 2000 he received a Commendation for the legal landmark investigation, arrest and conviction of an internet sexual predator. This was the first case of its kind in the state of Washington.

Jerry was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed downhill skiing, hiking and mountaineering. His greatest accomplishment was summiting Mt. Rainier. Some of his favorite memories were with his Skookum buddies and in his later years spending time with his best buddy, Dan at Frankie Doodles in Spokane. The most important thing to Jerry was his family, especially his grandchildren. His time and memories created with them was the highlight of his life.

Jerry was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Shellee; his two daughters, Jodie Simpson (Mike) and Stacy Holden (Matt); and his grandchildren, who were the light of his life, Brianne (Mike), Makenzie, Sadie, Max and Ben.

Please join us for a Memorial at 2:00, on Saturday, February 1, at Spokane First Church of the Nazarene on Country Homes Blvd. to celebrate his life.