T.G. "Jerry" Keeley

Trevelyn Gerald "Jerry" Keeley, 96 of Billings (formerly of Hamilton) took his "final flight west" on Friday, November 14, 2014.
Jerry was born August 13, 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Ernest Wesley and Myrtle Viola Shane Keeley.
His family moved to Long Beach, CA in 1923 where Jerry was educated. He started flying planes in 1935, at the age of 17. He drove trucks while earning his private pilot's license in 1937. To build his flight time, Jerry performed exhibition parachute jumps and attempted to break the light plane endurance record by staying in the air for 8 days. Soon after, he earned his commercial pilot's license and started flying for Western Airlines in 1941. Jerry married Barbara "Bobbie" Doyle July 13, 1947 in North Hollywood, California. The couple retired to Hamilton, MT in 1972, spending time in Montana, California, and Hawaii. Jerry's stewardess and sweet bride passed away in December 2002. Mending his broken heart and putting a spring back in his golf game, Jerry later met Katie Jenkins.
Jerry was a member of Delta Pioneers, Delta Golden Wings and the Western Airlines Silver Chiefs. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Parish, The Elks Lodge, and the Hamilton Golf Club and never missed a Saturday night dinner at BJs or a Wednesday at the Elks while living in Hamilton. Jerry enjoyed trap shooting, hunting, fishing and golfing.
Jerry never went anywhere without gold dollar coins, which he would give out generously to children both family and strangers alike, a tradition carried on from his mother. He lived the example of putting family first and encouraged his children to do the same. He had a heart of gold and a "thumbs up" for everything he liked.
Surviving include his sister, Virginia Houchin; children, Shirley and husband, Dick Payette of Baxter, MN; Nancy Keeley and husband Jonathan Williams of Ashland, OR; Wesley and wife, Mary Keeley of Billings, MT; Mary and husband, Dan Driscoll of Sumner, WA; his sweetie, Katie Jenkins; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Jerry was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Kathleen; brothers Jack and Bernard; sister, Patty Keeley and wife, Bobbie, in 2002.
The family suggests memorials be made to Rocky Mountain Hospice, Billings, MT or a charity of your choice.
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