Individual Details

Lexington Clipper Herald, Lexington, Nebraska July 3, 2003: Graveside services for Leon Conrey Keyes, 65, Lexington, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2003 at Crown Hill Cemetery in Denver, Colo. The family has chosen cremation. Leon died Friday, June 27, 2003, at Denver, Colo., of a massive heart attack. He was born Nov. 2, 1937, at North Platte to Albert and Fern (Kirkpatrick) Keyes. He grew up in North Platte and graduated from high school at Golden, Colo., in 1955. After graduation, Leon was involved in various businesses, which included operating numerous bars in Colorado. He was an entertainer, auctioneer for benefits and operated a hardware/lumber business in Colorado. In the 1970s, he operated the Country Kicker lounge in Elwood. In 1985, he married Shirley McMillan at Golden, Colo. They moved to Lexington in 1995. He owned and operated Key Motors in Lexington from 1995 until his death. Leon was a Mason with the Thistle Lodge in Lexington and the Henry Teller Lodge in Denver. He was a Tehama Shriner and was of the Methodist faith. He was also a member of the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame. He enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and looked forward to elk hunting each fall. He also enjoyed his grandchildren, and had a nickname for each of them. His home by the sandpits offered tranquillity as he sat on the porch overlooking the water. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Keyes, Lexington; a daughter, Cherilyn (Robert) Vaughn, Westminster, Colo.; a son, Kevin (Devra) Keyes, North Hollywood, Calif.; stepchildren, Tammy (Larry) Schoenauer, Picayune, Miss., Debbie Carson, Trenton, Don (Tami) Walkenshaw, Grand Ronde, Ore., and Steven Walkenshaw, Kingston, N.Y.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary Keyes, Westminster, Colo.; and sisters, Myra Duvel, Yuma, Ariz., and Harriet Lorenzini, Alliance; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Henrietta Parker, a brother, Ray Lombard, and brothers-in-law, A.J. Lorenzini, Bill Duvel and Boyd Parker. Memorials are suggested to the Shriner's Children's Hospital in his memory. Newcomer Funeral Home in Lakewood, Colo., is in charge of arrangements.

Birth	2 Nov 1937	North Platte, Lincoln Co., Nebraska
Marriage	1985	Golden, Jefferson Co., Colorado - Shirley McMillan
Death	27 Jun 2003	Denver, Denver Co., Colorado
Burial		Crown Hill Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson Co., Colorado

Spouse	unknown ??? ( - )
Child	Cherilyn Joan Keyes (1958 - )
Child	Kevin Conrey Keyes (1962 - )

Spouse

Shirley McMillan ( - )

Father	Marion Albert Keyes (1903 - 1966)
Mother	Fern Alma Kirkpatrick (1899 - 1978)
Sibling	Gary A Keyes (1940 - 2015)