Richard Frank Keys, Sr. passed away on Monday, October 14, 2024. He was born to Eunnis Frank and Leva Zell Keys on September 4, 1940. Visitation will be on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton starting at noon with a service at 2:00pm. Private interment at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.

Richard grew up in Flora. He played on the Flora High School football team and played semi-pro football for the Mississippi Stars before joining the Air Force in 1961. He was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida when he met the love of his life, Vesta Frazier and married her on November 10, 1962, and completed his duty at Ramstein Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany. After returning from Germany, he worked for Mississippi Bearings in Jackson for 20+ years, and finally working for Bynum Mill and Industrial Supply in Richland until retirement.

Richard was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Keys, and his sisters Verna Griffin and Lenora Stringer.

He is survived by his wife Vesta Keys of Clinton, and son, Ricky Keys (Wendy) of Florence; three grandchildren Alex Luckett (Michael), Zachary Keys, and Morgan Roach (Dylan) and one great-grandson, Beckham Roach; brother-in-law Eugene Frazier, Jr. and sisters-in-law Dorothy Bunn (John) and Jean Johnson.