Claud "Red" Keefer, Sr., of Rockwall, TX, passed away July 19, 2018, at the age of 94. He was born February 20, 1924, in Bronte, TX, to Lemuel and Mae (Murphy) Keefer, who were farmers with six boys. It was there that Red met and fell in love with Esta "Jewel" Tindall. He said she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, and he was sure she wouldn't be interested in a red-haired, freckle-faced boy like him; however, they married on December 24, 1941, and their true love lasted two months shy of 70 years. Red and Jewel went on to raise two children, Claud Jr. and Sherry, in the West Texas area.
The family moved to Big Spring, TX, to grow cotton. Red and his younger brother, Levi, ordered a thrashing machine from Sears and Roebuck. It came in numerous pieces, but they built it and were successful for many years. When WWII broke out, four of the six brothers went to war. In 1948, Red and Jewel moved to Odessa, TX, for the oil boom, where the money and jobs were plentiful. They worked hard and saved enough to buy a piece of land, where they built four two-room houses to rent out. Red also developed a business consisting of three service stations and eventually bought an oil jobbership and named it Keefer Oil Company, and Jewel kept the books. Once they retired, they moved to Maypearl, TX, and they and their family members all lived within an hour of each other. At the ranch, they raised cows and even had their own horses. From Maypearl, they moved to Rockwall, where Jewel passed away October 1, 2010. They were members of Rowlett Church of Christ in Rowlett, TX. Red and Jewel were great role models for their children, who feel very blessed for the closeness they shared with their mom and dad all these years.
Red's life and legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by his children: Claud P. Keefer, Jr., and his wife Cindy, and Sherry Lindsey and her husband Steve; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and close friends. Red was preceded in death by his beautiful wife: Jewel; his parents; and his brothers: Jim, Robert, Levi, Roy & L.D.
The family moved to Big Spring, TX, to grow cotton. Red and his younger brother, Levi, ordered a thrashing machine from Sears and Roebuck. It came in numerous pieces, but they built it and were successful for many years. When WWII broke out, four of the six brothers went to war. In 1948, Red and Jewel moved to Odessa, TX, for the oil boom, where the money and jobs were plentiful. They worked hard and saved enough to buy a piece of land, where they built four two-room houses to rent out. Red also developed a business consisting of three service stations and eventually bought an oil jobbership and named it Keefer Oil Company, and Jewel kept the books. Once they retired, they moved to Maypearl, TX, and they and their family members all lived within an hour of each other. At the ranch, they raised cows and even had their own horses. From Maypearl, they moved to Rockwall, where Jewel passed away October 1, 2010. They were members of Rowlett Church of Christ in Rowlett, TX. Red and Jewel were great role models for their children, who feel very blessed for the closeness they shared with their mom and dad all these years.
Red's life and legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by his children: Claud P. Keefer, Jr., and his wife Cindy, and Sherry Lindsey and her husband Steve; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and close friends. Red was preceded in death by his beautiful wife: Jewel; his parents; and his brothers: Jim, Robert, Levi, Roy & L.D.
Claud "Red" Keefer, Sr., of Rockwall, TX, passed away July 19, 2018, at the age of 94. He was born February 20, 1924, in Bronte, TX, to Lemuel and Mae (Murphy) Keefer, who were farmers with six boys. It was there that Red met and fell in love with Esta "Jewel" Tindall. He said she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, and he was sure she wouldn't be interested in a red-haired, freckle-faced boy like him; however, they married on December 24, 1941, and their true love lasted two months shy of 70 years. Red and Jewel went on to raise two children, Claud Jr. and Sherry, in the West Texas area.
The family moved to Big Spring, TX, to grow cotton. Red and his younger brother, Levi, ordered a thrashing machine from Sears and Roebuck. It came in numerous pieces, but they built it and were successful for many years. When WWII broke out, four of the six brothers went to war. In 1948, Red and Jewel moved to Odessa, TX, for the oil boom, where the money and jobs were plentiful. They worked hard and saved enough to buy a piece of land, where they built four two-room houses to rent out. Red also developed a business consisting of three service stations and eventually bought an oil jobbership and named it Keefer Oil Company, and Jewel kept the books. Once they retired, they moved to Maypearl, TX, and they and their family members all lived within an hour of each other. At the ranch, they raised cows and even had their own horses. From Maypearl, they moved to Rockwall, where Jewel passed away October 1, 2010. They were members of Rowlett Church of Christ in Rowlett, TX. Red and Jewel were great role models for their children, who feel very blessed for the closeness they shared with their mom and dad all these years.
Red's life and legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by his children: Claud P. Keefer, Jr., and his wife Cindy, and Sherry Lindsey and her husband Steve; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and close friends. Red was preceded in death by his beautiful wife: Jewel; his parents; and his brothers: Jim, Robert, Levi, Roy & L.D.
The family moved to Big Spring, TX, to grow cotton. Red and his younger brother, Levi, ordered a thrashing machine from Sears and Roebuck. It came in numerous pieces, but they built it and were successful for many years. When WWII broke out, four of the six brothers went to war. In 1948, Red and Jewel moved to Odessa, TX, for the oil boom, where the money and jobs were plentiful. They worked hard and saved enough to buy a piece of land, where they built four two-room houses to rent out. Red also developed a business consisting of three service stations and eventually bought an oil jobbership and named it Keefer Oil Company, and Jewel kept the books. Once they retired, they moved to Maypearl, TX, and they and their family members all lived within an hour of each other. At the ranch, they raised cows and even had their own horses. From Maypearl, they moved to Rockwall, where Jewel passed away October 1, 2010. They were members of Rowlett Church of Christ in Rowlett, TX. Red and Jewel were great role models for their children, who feel very blessed for the closeness they shared with their mom and dad all these years.
Red's life and legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by his children: Claud P. Keefer, Jr., and his wife Cindy, and Sherry Lindsey and her husband Steve; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and close friends. Red was preceded in death by his beautiful wife: Jewel; his parents; and his brothers: Jim, Robert, Levi, Roy & L.D.
