Scott K. Keefer

Scott K. Keefer

GREENVILLE - Scott K. Keefer, 98, of Greenville passed away on June 28, 2025 in HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence. He was the husband of the late Betty J. (Geldart) Keefer for 64 years. Born in Woonsocket, he was the son of the late Jackson M. Keefer and Dorothy M. (King) Pitcher.

Mr. Keefer was a prominent attorney in Woonsocket practicing as a partner in the law firm Macktaz, Keefer and Kirby for over 50 years. He was admitted to practice in 1953 and was a member of the RI Bar Association. He was also admitted to practice before the Federal Bar and was a member of the American Bar Association. During his life as an attorney, he served as the Judge of the 12th District Court of RI, sitting in Woonsocket and served as Judge of the Probate Court of the Town of Glocester for over 25 years. He was also Town Solicitor of Glocester for nearly 10 years until he was appointed Judge of the District Court by the Honorable Governor John H. Chafee. He also served as a special assistant in the RI Attorney General's office under the late Herbert DeSimone in the Appellate Division.

While an active member of the RI Bar Association, he served as its President and was also President of the New England Bar Association. He also served for over 10 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the RI Bar Association.

Mr. Keefer was a resident of North Smithfield for over 60 years where he was active in local politics, elected to the office of Town Moderator for approximately 25 years. Scott was a member of the Republican Town Committee for nearly 30 years, serving as its President and Treasurer for 20 years.

Mr. Keefer was educated in the Woonsocket School system graduating from Woonsocket High School in 1945, where he was a star athlete, recognized in his senior year as Best Athlete. Scott was installed in the first Woonsocket High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Scott enlisted in the Navy following graduation from High School. After completing his military service, he matriculated at Miami of Ohio University, where he was a member of the freshman football team and also a member of the boxing team. He won the welterweight division championship in Dayton Ohio Golden Gloves tournament in 1947. He also attended the University of Southern California and UCLA from which he graduated in 1950 with a BA degree and then attended Boston University Law School from which he graduated in 1952 with a JD Degree. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Johnson and Wales University in 2002, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees for over 20 years and was a Legacy Member of the Board of Corporators.

Mr. Keefer was active in his community where he lived and worked, serving as President of the Woonsocket YMCA, the Woonsocket Visiting Nurses Association, the Woonsocket Lions Club, the Thundermist District of the Boy Scouts of America and the Ballou Home Association. He was also a Past Master of the Morningstar Lodge in Woonsocket.

Scott was an avid tennis player and golfer, having served as President of the Winnesuket Country Club (now the New England Golf Club). He was also a member of Kirkbrae Country Club and Laconia Country Club in NH. His golf claim to fame was that he had 5 holes in one, 4 after he lost sight in one eye from golfing injury he suffered when he was 60 years old. He was a summer resident on Squam Lake, NH where he loved residing for over 60 years.

Scott was a communicant of St. James Episcopal Church in Woonsocket and a member of the Vestry for 25 years. He served as Senior Warden for 10 years.

He is survived by his five children, Patricia Moore and her husband, Stephen, of Virginia Beach, VA, Jeff Keefer and his wife, Patty Ann, of Holderness, NH, Kim McGuinness and her husband, Peter, of Warwick, Jack Keefer and his wife, Tracy, of Charlotte, NC and Peter Keefer of Plymouth, NH; his sister, Kathy Fink and her husband, Ted, of Miamisburg, OH; twelve grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Dana Elizabeth Dominguez and his brother Jack Keefer.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10 AM in St. James Episcopal Church, 24 Hamlet Ave., Woonsocket. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Smithfield Rd., North Smithfield. Calling hours will be held Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4-7PM in the Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main St., Woonsocket. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be sent in Mr. Keefer's memory to St. James Episcopal Church's Food Bank, 24 Hamlet Ave., Woonsocket, RI 02895

www.holtfuneralhome.com