Oscar Vernon “O.V.” Keith, Sr., 84, of Alamosa, Colorado went to be with his Heavenly Father peacefully at the Evergreen Nursing Home on Saturday, July 2, 2016. He has won his battle with Multiple Myeloma and Dementia and is in the presence and arms of his Savior.

O.V. was born on September 14, 1931 in Bartow County, Georgia to Henry Floyd Keith and Vida Ann Barclay Keith. He graduated from Redbud High School in 1949, and married Tommy Dean Johnson in 1954.

He enjoyed a short career at Lockheed Aircraft Industry before being called into the ministry. He was a student of Wayland Baptist University and Southwestern Theological Seminary where he studied music and ministry. As a student, he was called on to lead music in local revivals and was eventually called to serve at his first church in Plainview, Texas. O.V. served as music, education and youth minister at a variety of churches in Texas and New Mexico for 20+ years.

In 1985, he established the Living Rock Christian Retreat in South Fork, Colorado. During his years in South Fork, he served his community in the local business association, serving as president one year, and helped to establish the first snowmobile club in South Fork and served as their chaplain. He enjoyed many years of serving the church groups that came to the Living Rock and snowmobiling and hunting as much as he could. He was also very involved in the Ranchman’s Camp Meeting Association of the Southwest and led worship for many camp meetings in Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming.

O.V. is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vida; two sisters Esther Blanton and Flora Mae West; and brother David Keith and son-in-law Jeffery A Sabade. He is survived by his sister Oma Holcomb, former wife Tommy Johnson, his four children and their spouses Kitty (Wes) Puckett, Vernon (Carol) Keith, Jane (Keith) Stanley, and Teri (Emmett) Johnson; his nine grand-daughters, great grandson and great-granddaughter, along with numerous nieces and nephews, notably James “Jim” West of Rome, GA who has a close and special relationship with O.V.

He will be remembered by his great love for music, ministry, snowmobiling and the mountains.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Evergreen Nursing Home in Alamosa, CO for their attentiveness and care to O.V.

Cremation was chosen and a Memorial Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Monte Vista.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements. Online condolences, remarks and tributes may be left for O.V.’s family by visiting his obituary at www.RogersFunerals.com

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