Ralph Clyde Keele, Jr. passed away at home, peacefully, in his sleep, in the morning of April 26, 2023, of COPD. He was 83 years old.

He was born at home to Van Henry and Dolma Hansen Keele in Royal, Utah, and was the fourth of five children. He married Shirlee Ann Rowley. They were sealed in the Manti temple. They were one month shy of their 66th Anniversary.

Dad grew up in Price and he spent a lot of time with his brothers Roy and Joe and his best friend Mark Winn. He loved living near his Grandpa and Grandma Keele. He had a work horse named Blackie that was very dear to him.

Mom and Dad lived in Provo, Green River, Nucla, Moab, and then moved back to Price in 1972. Dad worked on seismograph rigs, as a police officer, and he owned and operated a food truck (aptly named Ralph!). He worked in the uranium mines and little did he know how the radiation would ruin his lungs. He finished his working days driving a coal truck for Savage Trucking Company. He loved his big, long, triple trailer work truck, and his CB handle was “Sugar.”  He listened to a lot of country music while he was driving, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Charlie Pride. Dad was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, District 22, Local Union 1902, for over 50 years.

Ralph loved to grow a huge garden every year. He spent a lot of time hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed camping, riding motorcycles and four wheelers.  We dubbed him “The Leader” of our family bike gang, “The Bike Bums,” which consisted of mom and dad, Raelynn, Ralph, Robert, Terry, Roy, Grandpa Rowley and all of their spouses.

Dad was a lefty, and he had a great sense of humor. He always had a silly joke to tell or an interesting experience to share. He was a master storyteller and his family loved to hear him tell tales over, and over again. He loved to watch old western movies. Dad loved to read and when he retired, he read as many as two or three books a week! Rocky provided him with hundreds of books about World War II, which was his favorite subject.

A ball cap, sunglasses, plaid button up shirt, Levi’s, suspenders, a pocketknife and his cane made up his daily wardrobe. After retirement he would go to Walmart or Sutherlands every day to get his walking in. This was his social outlet where he talked and visited with many friends. Unfortunately, COVID stopped that, and he didn’t get out much thereafter.

Dad was a quiet, gentle man. He adored his wife and always called her his sweetheart. He said everything mom cooked was his favorite meal! He loved his family dearly and worked hard to provide everything for them. He had big hands and a big heart. He never, ever complained, even when his breathing was compromised, and it became harder for him to feel good and to get around. He instilled a sound work ethic in his kids by having us help him build garages, fences, ponds and carports. We poured concrete, worked in the food truck and ran a successful power raking business. We are grateful to our dad for the example he set and the hard worker that he was.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Shirlee, of Price, Utah; his children, Raelynn (Rusty) Hunt of Wellington, Utah, Ralph (Sandi) Keele of Price, Utah, Rocky (Joye) Keele of Sahuarita, Arizona, Rusty (JennyLee) Keele of Ogden, Utah and Cinnamon Madsen of Oceanside, California; 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. He will be greatly missed by many.

Ralph was the last survivor of his siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Phyllis Wheeler and Joyce Beveridge; brothers, Roy Keele and Joe Keele.

Funeral service, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 12:00 noon, Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street, Price, Utah) where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment, Wellington City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Ralph online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.

Ralph’s family would like to thank everyone who has reached out with love and condolences.