Phillip W. Keffer

Services for Phillip W. Keffer, 81, Lawrence, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Hutchinson.Mr. Keffer died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at his home. He was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Hutchinson, the son of Alva W. and Chrystal A. Brown Keffer. He moved from Hutchinson to Lawrence in 1965.Mr. Keffer served in the U.S. Navy as a seaman during World War II and the Korean War. He worked in maintenance for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for 33 years and retired in March 1981. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church and American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post No. 14.Mr. Keffer was serving as grand commander of the Grand Commandory of Knights Templar of Kansas when he died. He was a charter member of Arthur H. Strickland Lodge No. 452, past master of Acacia Lodge No. 9, grand high priest of the All Saints of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and grand council and installed sovereign master of the Allied Masonic Degrees.He was a member of Doric Lodge No. 83, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry S.J., the Royal Order of Scotland Provincial Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Chapter H.R.M., St. Augustine Conclave of the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, Legion Honor of the Order of DeMolay, Northeast Preceptor of Kansas, Knights Templar Eye Foundation Inc., Missouri Lodge of Research, Kansas Masonic Lodge of Research, Kansas College of Masonic Societas Rosiccuriana, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Shawnee Square and Compass Club, Order of Eastern Star and Kansas York Rite College. Mr. Keffer was active in the Boy Scouts of America and received the Eagle Scout award as a youth and the Silver Beaver Award as an adult leader.He married June Naomi Schroeder on Feb. 2, 1946, in Hutchinson. She survives, of the home. Other survivors include three sons, Gregory W., Lenexa, and Clark W. and Jonathan W., Lawrence; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A son, Roger W., died Feb. 21, 1988.Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.The family suggests memorials to the oncology unit at Lawrence Memorial Hospital or to York Rite of Kansas. They may be sent in care of the mortuary.Online condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwainmortuary.com, subject: Keffer