Willie Bee Keith Sr.

STAFF SGT. WILLIE BEE KEITH

JANUARY 16, 1947 - AUGUST 22, 2024

Funeral service for Staff Sgt. E6 Willie Bee Keith Sr., 77 of Eudora, Arkansas will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024. Services will be held at Bright Morning Star Baptist Church, Highway 8, West, Eudora; Rev. David Toney, Pastor and Officiating Minister.

Mr. Keith was born January 16, 1947 in Eudora Arkansas to the parents of Fert Keith and Rachael Morrison Keith. He attended school in the Ross Van Ness School District and Eudora School District; graduating from Eudora High School with the class of 1965. His church membership was with Bright Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. David Toney.

At age 18, Mr. Keith was drafted into the U.S. Army at the height of the Vietnam War. After serving his term with the Army, he returned home to Eudora. After several years of contemplating, he joined the National Guards and was a member of the 216th Medical Company with training as a RN. His unit was called into active service during Operation Desert Storm and the Gulf War and during Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq War). Mr. Keith served a total of 32 years in the armed forces of which 28 of those years were with the National Guard; retiring in 2007. During his years of service, he saw more of the world than that 18 year old kid had ever dreamed of from the Philippines to Hong Kong to Germany and dozens of places between them.

Mr. Keith liked hunting, fishing and music. He also loved cooking outside.

Mr. Keith passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Lake Village, Arkansas. He leaves cherishing his memories his wife, Carrie Keith of Eudora, one son, Willie Bee Keith, Jr.(Paulina) of Texas; three daughters, Stacie Cook (Sherrie) of TX, Felicia Watkins of Nashville, TN, Summer Keith of Eudora; two sisters, Josie Lee Williams (Charlie) of Holly Hill, SC, Patricia Sanders of Connecticut, four brothers, Lorenzo Keith, Sr. (Myrtle) of Hopkins, SC, Aaron Keith of Forest City, AR, Zebbie Keith of Eudora, Eddie Lee Keith (Anita) of New Orleans, LA.

Burial will take place at Hill Cemetery, Highway 159, South, Eudora. Services entrusted to Dillard Funeral Home, 137 Front Street, Eudora.