Raymond F. Keables

Raymond Keables passed from this life on Sunday, December 1, 2024 from heart failure. Ray was born November 24, 1937 to Forrest and Gladys Trenary Keables, in Marshalltown, Iowa. Ray was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Mary Bacino Keables.

Ray graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1955 and went on to earn a degree in Business Administration from Drake University in 1961. During his career, Ray worked in management in computer technology, primarily with insurance and information technology systems. He was employed at Employer's Mutual Casualty Company, Farmland Insurance Company, and retired from GuideOne Insurance Company in 1998.

Ray volunteered as treasurer for the Ray Society at Drake University, and the Finance Committee at the Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community (DMIEC). He was a long-time member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and the DMIEC. Ray was a talented piano player, sharing his talents in high school, college, and for many years playing piano for Sunday worship services, weddings, and funerals. His musical talents were cherished by his family and as part of the community, bringing joy and comfort to many. He frequently volunteered his musical skills, enhancing the spiritual experience with his heartfelt performances.

Ray loved spending time with his family and friends, DIY projects, fishing trips to Canada, reading, jigsaw puzzles, U of Iowa and Iowa State sports, traveling around the world, and sharing many adventures with Mary.

Ray was a do-it-yourself enthusiast. When the Keables family outgrew their home, Ray and his friend Jim White designed and built a large addition, doubling the size of the house and adding a two-car garage, deck, and gazebo. The Keables lived in that house for 60 years before moving to Scottish Rite Park.

Ray had a life-long love of travel. He and Mary traveled extensively, visiting the British Isles, Scandinavia, St. Petersburg, Russia, Europe, China, the Holy Land, South America, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and a recent bucket list trip to Banff and Jasper in Canada. A memorable trip to Italy included a visit to Mary's cousins in Lucca Sicula, Sicily, where Mary's parents were born. He cherished his many fishing trips with friends and family to rustic cabins on Pakwash Lake, Ontario, Canada, enjoying the peace and beauty of nature and spectacular fishing.

Ray is survived by his loving wife of over 68 years, Mary; his children, Kathy Warden (Steve) of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Keables (Becca) of Tucson, Arizona, and Lori Anderson (Erik) of Washington, DC; his cherished grandchildren, Alex Bohlen and Cary Lancaster (Robert), Ben and Charlie Keables, and Sam and Ellie Anderson; and great-granddaughter, Reagan; his sister-in-law, Jackie Bacino; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Bettie and Charles Hayne, his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Bernadine Keables, and his brother-in-law, Jim Bacino.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. If guests are not able to attend the service in person, the family invites friends to join them virtually by clicking the livestream link at the end of the obituary below and accessible on the day of the service.

Memorials may be directed to Scottish Rite Park Good Neighbor Fund and condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Ray will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

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