Donald Leroy Keys

Donald Leroy Keys

Funeral services for Donald Leroy Keys were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 29, 1990 at Peet Mortuary in Lusk, Wyo. with Rev. Allen Kallenbach officiating. Burial was in Lusk Cemetery.

Mr. Keys died Jan. 25, 1990 in Denver, Colo. at the Veteran's Administration Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born May 27, 1934 in Lusk, Wyo. and attended Lusk schools, graduating from High School as valedictorian of his class in 1952.

He was granted a scholarship at the University of Wyoming studying Theory and Composition music graduating in 1956 and awarded a graduate assistantship before he was drafted into the U.S Army. He served two years at Fort Bliss, Texas as Assistant Chaplin playing organ before his discharge in 1958. He then accepted a position as accountant for Fruehauf Inc. in Denver where he worked for over 25 years.

Keys began his musical career at age 5 playing accordion solos for the Lion's Club of Lusk. He was a member of the Congregational Church in Lusk and sang in the choir. When a student at Lusk High School he wrote his first composition for full orchestra, "Scotch Waltz" performed by the Lusk High School band under the direction of Rex Yocum in 1951.

While continuing his skill as a concert piano soloist and composer of symphonic music, Keys perfected his abilities as an oil painter developing a recognized style with his many portraits and scenes of Wyoming and Colorado mountains in which he'd traveled as a youth.

Through his creative zest and appreciation of art, Mr. Keys has continued to be an inspiration to those he encountered, assuring his legacy.

He is survived by his mother Wyome Bourret of Lusk, Wyo., brother Gene Keys of Mesa, Ariz., his sister Mrs. Tom (Avanell) Howe of Littleton, Colo., step-brothers Dennis and Chris Bourret both of T..., his niece Claire Howe of Littleton, Colo., five nephews Tom and Patrick Howe of Littleton, D?, David and Donald Keys of Mesa, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his father, (Donald Charles) Keys of Lusk in 1968.

Memorials to the Congregational Church in Lusk will be appreciated.

* ? Parts of the paper this was taken from were missing.

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