Edwin Roy Keller

Eulogy & Service Message by Kathy Keller & Mark Briley: Celebration of Life Edwin Roy Keller, Jr. July 11, 2020 10:30 AM Broadway Christian Church Outdoor Worship Space Rev. Mark P. Briley, Officiating The Apostle Paul, among the most persuasive writers of his time, shares this word in his letter to the church in Rome: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." There is a grace given to each of us… something that we can't always explain the how's or why's of when that grace finds root in our being or the how's and why's of when we find opportunity to let that grace loose in the world. Whatever the case, such grace is the often that spark that we are gifted to see in the lives of others - a uniqueness that helps us wonder at life, at passion, at the mysteries of God, and such that brings grief and causes us to reflect in times of death. Today we gather to remember the grace birthed and nurtured into the life of Dr. Edwin Roy Keller, Jr. His grace was teaching… he taught. His gift was to encourage… he encouraged. His gift was to give generously… he gave. His gift was to lead… he led diligently. In this brief time together today it is impossible to capture the fullness of Roy's life… his decades of love and laughter, leadership and legacy. In our quiet moments this morning, may you hold close of heart, your own great memories of Roy… the inside jokes you shared, the gifts you learned from him, the times he pulled you through, the song by the Eagles or Johnny Cash that you know made his soul sing, the poems or love of baseball that remind you of the grace you experienced of calling him yours; in whatever capacity defined the relationship between the two of you. In this sacred time and space, we gather to celebrate Roy and also our God who creates with such mysterious glory the likeness of one like Roy. Will you pray with me? God of every great accolade and God of the simplest of tasks, we pray in this moment, marveling at the mystery of your Creation… the coming and going of life and death and the beauty that is lived in between those moments. In Edwin Roy Keller Jr, you exposed us to your grace in a way like never before. There's never been another Roy… none crafted quite like him… inquisitive with intellect… compassionate and patient… eyes and heart to see the world in a unique way that not only shaped his life but the lives of everyone sharing in this prayer now… and the many who are gathered with us in spirit. There is sadness, God. We grieve the physical loss of Roy in our lives. We lack understanding about the painful mysteries of tumors and the illness they bring our bodies and that of those we love. We pray Roy's peace from the end of human frailty and the joy of eternal freedom - alive in spirit, freed in ways we cannot comprehend from this vantage point, and alive in legacy in all touched by his graces shared. Bring comfort to our sadness, God. Bring hope to our despair. Bring resurrection to us all. In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who lived a life and taught in stories journalists dream of, we pray… Amen. Born in the river city of Memphis - the "Place of Good Abode" as the names origin suggests - in 1940, Edwin Roy Keller, Jr. was welcomed by his mother, Helen, and father, E. Roy, Sr. The family solidified its roots, however, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where the Keller family served as one of the earliest pioneer families to settle in Craighead County. Roy's only sibling, Allen and Allen's wife, Ann, still reside on that beloved family land. Roy's life will be celebrated in Jonesboro in a couple of weeks. E. Roy Sr, was a veterinarian and considered himself a personal friend of any politician with whom he shook hands. Helen was a teacher. Roy had an even-keeled demeanor, an inquisitive intelligence, and athletic streak with a deadly jump shot from the free-throw line. Motivated by the educational endeavor, Roy received multiple degrees from Arkansas State, University of Arkansas, Kansas and Kansas State respectively. English and journalism were his passions. One classmate, thinking Roy had the voice she imagined great poet Robert Frost to have, once asked their professor in class if the Prof would have Roy read the Frost poem so they could all enjoy. Roy's other classmate, Bob, in the telling of this story, always laughed with Roy about that moment, in part, because Roy always looked so young compared to the aged and beloved poet. Bob, speaking of his dear friend, also held Roy in the highest esteem quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "A true friend is a person to whom you want to ‘rise'." Roy was such a person to Bob… and many others. James, the biblical writer, says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." Roy's wisdom was evident, his influence far reaching, when you read the stories shared by Roy's former students and colleagues. Roy nurtured journalism students at Sterling College in Kansas, at Mizzou in Columbia and most notably, during his twenty-four years as Journalism Professor and advisor to the student newspaper, The Capaha Arrow at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. The descriptors shared about by colleagues and students alone are noteworthy: thoughtful, modest, and empathetic. An amazing story teller who chose his words with precise discretion. Patient. A strong sense of duty. Grammarian. Taskmaster. Legacy maker. Southern Gentleman. Soft spoken. Dear friend. I loved reading the stories of students, most all of whom started their story with a sense that they didn't know what they were doing, who they were, what they wanted in life before encountering Dr. Keller in college. Many of them didn't believe in themselves or know their full capabilities but each named Roy, with great reverence, as one who saw in them what they couldn't see in themselves. Robert, one such student, said, "Dr. Keller made arrangements for me and some other students to attend a state-wide conference for journalism students. Dr. Keller entered one of the issues into a competition on my behalf. I ended up winning first-place in page design. I would never have had the foresight or motivation at that point to even enter such a contest." Roy's constant nudging and empowering helped Robert on his way to the Peace Corps, Master's and Doctoral Programs, for which Dr. Keller wrote letters of recommendation, to his current position as professor at The University of Texas and media psychologist for the entertainment industry. Another student said that Dr. Keller was the professor all the students went to for those letters of recommendations and advice on the next steps of their professional journeys. Dustin called Roy the gatekeeper of sorts at SEMO as every aspiring writer, photographer, or cartoonist would encounter him during their studies. Dustin shifted, however, to call Roy the gate-opener, as he helped countless students get placed in internships, graduate assistantships, and jobs. Titus 2:7-8, found in the Second (or New) Testament, says, "In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech…". Listen to a few of the lessons Roy taught by example to the students who readily named them… • There are no shortcuts. • Words have meanings and the decisions we make when we use our words have consequences. • If you get a bad review and choose to destroy something, study what you are destroying first so you can learn from it. • Redirect emotions productively. • Everyone in the newsroom has a role to play. • Everyone's participation is required. • Overcome differences in order to achieve a common goal. • Learn to care about the work of others as much as your own. Never underestimate the gift of believing in someone who doesn't yet recognize their full potential. I loved the stories of students that said, "I was under qualified but he never doubted that I could do it." Roy's patience and willingness to put in the time excellence required left quite an impact. I loved the story of one student who spoke of Dr. Keller as the person who taught him to write. "We sat next to each other," he said, "and Dr. Keller would point out problems with my writing. I would write another draft and he patiently iterated through the drafts making them better and better. Even it if were 1:00 AM, Dr. Keller would not allow my bad writing into the newspaper and he wouldn't write it for me either." He would give feedback and patiently wait for the next revision. The highest praise? "Dr. Keller brought the best out of us." "He helped me grow morally." "Dr. Keller didn't just encourage us to be better journalist. He taught us how to be better people." Many of his students and colleagues also named how much Roy loved and humbly lifted up his family. Such is also high praise. And a family's word often shares another side of a person's life. Kathy wrote a few paragraphs of her memories of Roy that she has asked me to read on her behalf and I do so now: "Roy loved reading newspapers, watching (and arm-chair coaching) Cardinal baseball and eating dessert--especially chocolate ice cream and pecan pie. He enjoyed his college students and loved his children and was very diligent to teach them what he knew-grammar, politics, manners, and the kind of wisdom/advice that he passed on with "sayings" he had heard or read during his life growing up in the south, such as, "Don't holler ‘til your hurt'," "This too shall pass," "There's many a slip between the cup and the lip," and many, many others that are now and forever permanently embedded in our brains. Roy had a great sense of humor and enjoyed watching The Johnny Carson late night TV show. Becky and Ryan also shared his sense of humor and gift for conversation --our Sunday dinners out were always full of great conversation and laughter. Roy was an essential part of the "Keller-Four"--what we called our immediate family. We always knew we could count on him and each other for support with life-decisions and especially with educational pursuits. I learned so much from Roy and grew in many ways due to his support and encouragement. I always envied Roy's incredible ability to remember everything he had ever read. Believe me, you did not want to play trivial pursuit with Roy. However, his amazing gift of memory was very helpful if you wanted the answer to any question pertaining to cultural or historical events present or past. He also possessed a uniquely personal talent for telling the most wonderful stories from his childhood. Some of which he turned into short stories. Fortunately for me, our children and his students, Roy took the time to pass on his writing and editing skills as well as his southern wisdom. I am grateful that Roy took the time to help me. Due to Roy's tutelage, my improved writing skills opened doors for me professionally. Roy has been such a life-long influence on me that I have taken on many of his habits--like buying 4 bananas at a time-2 fresh and 2 green and yes, arm-chair coaching Cardinal baseball. But mostly, Roy has always been my best friend and I will miss him greatly. ---Kathy Keller There's an integrity required and esteemed in the best journalism practices and a respect from a different angle that comes from one's home. But such integrity isn't possible in one's profession alone… or even through one's love and engagement with their family. There has to be something in one's own personal quest… from the depths of one's own soul… that prompts us to live in such a way. In recent years, Roy found his way to our church where he shared in the inquisitive discussions of the Sunshine Sunday School class and the simple teachings and throw-back Bluegrass service Broadway would host monthly in Rocheport. Roy's favorite story, a famed parable of Jesus, was the Good Samaritan. It's a simple, but challenging story… as in… easy to hear but not always the easiest to follow. Found in Luke's Gospel, the tenth chapter's subtitle reads, "Defining neighbor." On an occasion Jesus was teaching, a challenger rises from the crowd, a religious scholar… think know-it-all student who calls out the prof in arrogance: "What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?" the man scoffs in pride of his sarcastic question. As Jesus so often does, Jesus turns it back on the student: "You're educated in God's Law. How do you interpret it?" Playing along, the pompous student quips back the answer every Jewish person learned in pre-school if not before: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself." At the rudimentary question, the man laughs trying to stir up the crowd. Jesus says, "Do it and you'll live." Looking for a loophole, the man says, "Ha. But just who is my neighbor?" And right there… in that moment, like any good storyteller, Jesus knows he's got an opportunity to teach. If you're graced to teach, teach. This may be, in part, why Roy appreciated this story so much. Jesus tells the story about a man who had been beaten, mugged and left for dead on a stretch of road known to be dangerous in this way. Two high-powered, respected leaders in the community who held roles in their churches and belonged to the local Rotary Club and PTA, pass by the wounded man on separate occasions, crossing the street so they don't hold the guilt of stepping over the man in his moment of need. They were busy, late for meetings, and didn't want to get mixed up in the hassle of taking care of somebody else. The student in the crowd calling out Jesus is looking around a little nervous at this point but also scoffing, "What's this guy talking about?" And then, the zinger. Jesus says, "A Samaritan traveling the road came by and seeing the man's condition, his heart went out to him." (Now - to this crowd, the Samaritans were no good, low-life's. The worst of the worst). Jesus continues, "The Samaritan gave the man some first aide, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. He then picked him up, put him in the front seat of his Dodge Stratus, drove him to a Holiday Inn Express and made him comfortable. He gave the staff extra money to "take care of him" and said, "If anything further is needed, simply charge it to my account." You could now hear a pin drop among the crowd. Jesus looks up at the arrogant student and calmly says, "Now who do you think, of the three passerby's, became a neighbor to this man in his time of need?" Humbled, but too proud to speak with much voice, the man mutters, "The Samaritan." Jesus simply says, "Go and do the same." Go and do the same. It's a simple word and yet such a challenging way to walk. Roy was taken with this story, captured somehow but its simplicity but also its call to welcome, dignify the Other, and set by example, doing what is good and just. This is a story to remind us that we should never be too busy to forego compassion for another in need. We should never assume the character of a person because of where they're from, what titles they hold, or if they hold no titles at all. Jesus wasn't interested in arrogant recitation of the law but compassionate behavior based in love. I didn't have the chance to meet and know Roy myself in my limited time here at Broadway. But I've known this story since my childhood and to know Roy's intrigue with this story says much to me about his character. Roy's commitment to a journalist's integrity also was his commitment to honoring his word. Former student, Nicole, said, "If Dr. Keller said he was going to do something, then he did it." Why? Because Roy would say, "My word's out!" Jesus used this sort of language in his promises to us, however mysterious they may be. In John's Gospel Jesus says, "If I say I go to prepare a place for you, my word's out, I'll do it. I'll come for you and you will be with me." And so? As such grace is given, give it back, give it forward, invest it in the lives of others because that is the life that is truly life; a legacy that lives on in you because Dr. Edwin Roy Keller, Jr. gave you the graces entrusted to him. In the words of Jesus: "Go and do the same." Let us pray… You lead us, O God, through the glory of the mountaintop moments and the dark depths of the deepest valleys we can know in this life. Our journeys, while uniquely graced with our own beauty and complexity, are also shared. We share common goals, common loves, common hopes… especially with those we surround ourselves with in this moment. While feelings of finality find us in times of loss and death, your story is one of lasting legacy, of eternal connection, of love beyond the boundaries of time, space, and the flesh. Roy… offered to us as gift…offered his life as a grace to the world… as a companion to us. We have been, and are, enriched by the life we shared with him and offer him now, into the fullness of your eternal care. Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever… AMEN.