Warner Charles "Shorty" Keef

Warner Charles “Shorty” Keef, 81, of Fort Payne passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at his residence. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25th at Second Baptist Church in Fort Payne with Dr. John Screws, Rev. Max Tucker, Rev. John Keefe, and Dr. Harvey Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. He will lie in state from 1 until 2 p.m. at the church. The family will receive friends Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Survivors include his wife of over 58 years, Verdie Ree Keef of Fort Payne; daughters Anita (Terry) Shirley of Hammondville; and Monia (Wallace) Smith, of Fort Payne; grandchildren Andy Smith of Birmingham, Melissa Smith of Montevallo; Dawn Posey of Fort Payne; Brandi (Farley) Green of Hammondville; four great-grandchildren Luke and Jessica Posey and Will and Bailee Green; sister Burma Casey of Rainsville; brother Robert Keef of Rainsville; half-brothers Jimmy, Bobby, Ronald, Ned, and Tony Keef; half-sisters Doris Jackson, Sue Gosdin, and Jane Martin; special sisters Cheryl McCurdy Carroll of Huntsville, Barbara McCurdy Casey, and Martha Blevins Gilbreath all of Fort Payne. “Special family” members include Frank and Shirley Daniel of Murphreesboro, TN; Susan and Bud Pollard of Fort Payne; Elaine and Alex Overstreet of Anniston; Bert and Leah Boykin of Scottsboro; Bill and Doris Fuller of Geraldine; Quinnion and Wynelle Harrison of Fort Payne. For almost 50 years, Mr. Keef was known throughout Northeast Alabama and Georgia as a farm equipment dealer with Ford and Massey-Ferguson Companies. He owned and operated W.C. Keef Tractor Company in Geraldine for many years. He was an avid University of Alabama Crimson Tide supporter. He was a member of Second Baptist Church where he served in numerous positions including deacon, music director, trustee, and Training Union teacher. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and a friend to all who knew him. He was preceded in death by grandchildren William Charles Smith and Christina Nichole Shirley; and his parents Horace Keef and Myrtle Keef. Pallbearers will be Andy Smith, Quinnon Harrison, Bert Boykin, Frank Daniel, Gary Haas, and Tony Keef. Honorary pallbearers will be Luke Posey, Gary Johnson, Jimmy Keef, and Bill Fuller. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, online guestbook, www.wilsonfhinc.com.

Warner Charles "Shorty" Keef

November 23, 1927 - July 22, 2009