Wayne D. Keller

Wayne D. Keller was born in the Kings Creek Community of Caldwell County, North Carolina on July 23, 1937. His parents were John Colon Keller and Norma Parsons Keller.

He grew up in the Kings Creek community and attended Kings Creek School. Wayne graduated from High School in 1955 in a class of about 22 students. Wayne was a standout athlete playing both Basketball and Baseball. He was the captain of the basketball team and once scored 40 points in a game without missing a shot. He also hit a few home runs out of Walker Stadium in Lenoir. He was academically gifted and was a member of the Beta Club and voted most likely to succeed by the peers of his class. He served as class President, a role he continued, often planning many class reunions for decades later.

Upon graduation from Kings Creek High School, Wayne attended North Carolina State University and studied electrical engineering as his major.

He met Elizabeth Keller in 1953 as he and his brother helped her family move into the parsonage of Kings Creek Baptist Church when her father became the pastor. Elizabeth was 3 years younger than him, and he continued to date her throughout his days at NC State and they were married in 1962.

Upon graduation from NC State in 1959, he received a degree in electrical engineering, Wayne was recruited by Blue Ridge Electric to become a staff engineer. This job was truly the only thing he wanted to do. He began a 30-year career with BREMCO (Now Blue Ridge Energies) making sure the members of Western North Carolina had the electricity they needed. He was hands on, climbed power poles, designed sub stations and continued to prepare for future leadership positions.

In 1963, he became the Manager of BREMCO's Ashe County district. Beginning a management career that would span 30 years of his service to the North Carolina Electric Cooperatives. By 1968 he was back in Caldwell Country to serve in the role of Director of Engineering and Operations of Blue Ridge and eventually became the Chief Executive of BREMCO in 1980.

Wayne never took for granted the importance of this role and knew to be successful BREMCO needed to function as a team. He continued to be hands on and personally knew every employee by name to include their family members. He sought their input on all matters and was there for them when they needed him, professionally and personally. During any winter storm, he would be at the office working with operations and dispatch to help and lead as he could to restore power. He carried climbing gear, a hard hat and coveralls in the trunk of his car well into his late 40's.

He served on various statewide electric cooperative boards and was President of North Carolina Electric Membership Board from 1986 until 1987. In 1989, he had to make a decision that his family remembers as a very difficult career moment. He was appointed Chief Executive of the North Carolina Electric Cooperative Statewide Organization. This required him to work in Raleigh and be away from his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains and Blue Ridge Electric. He served in this role from 1989 until his retirement in 1994. During this time, he negotiated wholesale power contracts and the ownership of a nuclear reactor at the Catawba Nuclear Station. He brought power generation facilities to many areas of North Carolina that were on the end of transmission lines, notably the outer banks. He reorganized North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation into the modern-day corporation it still is today.

He retired at age 57 and returned to Lenoir to serve his community. Wayne was active in St. Stephen's Lutheran Church where he and Elizabeth worshiped for many years. The church family were lifelong friends that travelled together and socialized. He was a board member emeritus on the Caldwell County Hospital Foundation Board where he just recently served as their President. He served on the boards of Caldwell Community College, Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Bank of Granite, The Village of Cedar Rock planning board and also served as a Councilman on the Village of Cedar Rock Town Council. This was the only elected position he ever held.

Wayne was a gourmet chef, a foodie, and also a wine connoisseur. Mostly, however, he was a certified seafood nut. Oysters especially. Trips to the coast meant a constant diet of seafood only. Nothing else was permitted, except the occasional tomato sandwich.

Lastly, as a father, Wayne was everything a daughter or son could want. He was caring, fun, shared his experience and lessons and was mostly tolerant of mischief. He exposed his children to life outside of a small town and what was waiting in the world. He supported them through many ups and downs but was always there during the good and the bad. Not saying he was patient but measured in his responses to shortcomings and supportive of victories and accomplishments.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Pearson Keller, his parents, J. Colon Keller and Norma P. Keller and also his brother Kenneth E. Keller. He is survived by his sister, Janet K. Swanson and Tony Swanson of Lenoir. Children, Leigh Keller Brown of Lenoir, W. David Keller and wife Jamie T. Keller of Lexington, South Carolina. His three grandchildren, Abigail Leigh Brown of Asheville, North Carolina, Julianna Morgan Keller of Jacksonville Florida and John Colin "Jack' Keller of Columbia, South Carolina. He had three nieces and one nephew.

A receiving will be held at St. Stephens Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM, a funeral service will be held afterward at 11:00 AM with a graveside interment at Blue Ridge Memorial Park following. Additionally, Leigh and David Keller will host a reception and celebration of life at Cedar Rock Country Club at 2:00 PM. Pallbearers will be Philip Auton, Sam Ellis, Keith Johnston, Kevin Parsons, Doug Parsons and Mark Parsons.

Memorials can be made to St. Stephens Lutheran Church and Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Keller family.