Drury Lacy Keesler ’55

Drury Lacy Keesler ’55, of North Litchfield Beach, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., passed away surrounded by family members on March 21 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, S.C., after having been hospitalized for 13 days following a major heart attack on March 8. Keesler was born July 6, 1933, in Charlotte to Anne Dewey Chambers Keesler and Edward Yates Keesler. Along with his older brothers, Ted ’50, Lenoir ’49, and Dewey ’52, he received acclaim for winning state tennis titles as a boy and young man. He followed his brothers to Davidson, where he won a Southern Conference tennis title before graduating with a degree in economics. The four brothers together received a Special Recognition Award from the N.C. Tennis Foundation in 1991. After serving two years as a lieutenant in the Army, Keesler went to work for N.C. National Bank in Charlotte. Two years later, he joined the Howerton Agency in Charlotte and began selling life insurance for Connecticut Mutual. He earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table for 15 consecutive years, as well as the Certified Life Underwriter designation. He remained an agent through Connecticut Mutual’s merger into MassMutual in 1996 and until his death, a total of 50 years. In 1997, at age 64, he formed L2 Financial, a life insurance and estate planning agency in Charlotte, with Larry Horowitz ’75. In 1956, Keesler married Jane Zuill Moore of Charlotte. Together they had four children, nine grandchildren, and, so far, two great-grandchildren. They were looking forward to celebrating 55 years of marriage this June. In Charlotte, he taught Sunday school and served as a deacon, an elder, and a Stephens Minister at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Olde Providence Racquet Club, Independence Investors, and the Good Fellows Club. During the past 10 years, he lived at North Litchfield Beach with his wife, to whom he was devoted. He volunteered with Grace Ministries and the annual Beach Sweep cleanup and served on the board of the Litchfield Beach Property Owners Association. He was an active outdoorsman, who kept himself physically fit throughout his life. In addition to tennis, he enjoyed bicycling, saltwater fishing, scuba diving, sailing in the British Virgin Islands, and dove hunting. Many who knew Keesler would characterize his life as one lived with patience, steadiness, and gentleness. He was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers. Survivors include his beloved wife, Jane Keesler, 1210 Parker Dr., Pawleys Island, SC 29585; four children, Drury Lacy Keesler, Jr. (Becky), James Zuill Keesler (Ann), Emmie Moore Keesler Swanson (Mark), and Elizabeth Howerton Keesler Cochran (Edward); nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Davidson College for the Keesler Scholarship Fund, Davidson Athletic Foundation, Box 7172, Davidson, NC 28035-7172.