Curtis Lowell Keeler, age 87, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland, surrounded by family. Curtis was born April 26, 1934, to Bertha and Cecil Keeler in Lamar, Colorado.
Early in his childhood, the family moved to Raton, New Mexico, where Safeway transferred Cecil to manage their Raton store.
Curtis graduated from Raton High School in 1952 and attended The University of New Mexico until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1956. While in the Army, Curtis served honorably in South Korea. Upon returning to the States, he headed back to Albuquerque and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Industrial Relations from The University of New Mexico.
Curtis married Delores Jessie Lewis Sept. 7, 1963, at the First Presbyterian Church in Raton. He and Dee welcomed their son, Gregory Curtis, in 1965, and their daughter in 1969.
Curtis began his banking career with The First National Bank in Raton in 1960 and retired from its successor bank, Sunwest Bank of Raton in the mid-1990s having served as President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was instrumental in construction of the Sunwest Bank Operations Center, which now serves as the Center for Sustainable Community in Raton.
In addition to banking, Curtis served on the Board of Directors of both the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) and Raton Public Service. He was active in Rotary International, the Masons, First United Methodist Church and its finance committee, and the Raton Trap Club. He enjoyed fishing and being up-to-date on the latest in technology. Curtis moved to Maryland in 2013 to live with Gregory and his family.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dee in 2007; and his brother Charles “Chuck” Keeler in 2013. He is survived by his son Gregory Keeler and wife Judith, and grandchildren Erin and Nate O’Toole of Gambrills, Maryland; and his daughter and grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Carmen Keeler of Pueblo, Colorado; nephew Shawn Keeler; and niece Kim Roth.
His family would like to thank the staff of Futurecare Lochearn Skilled Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland; Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland; as well as Atria Manresa Assisted Living in Annapolis, Maryland, for their care, support, laughter and generous hearts.
A memorial service will take place in Raton, New Mexico later this year.
