Reginald A. Keller

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Reginald “Stretch” Keller of Eunice, LA announces his peaceful passing in Austin, TX on Tuesday, June 16 at the age of 93.
His body was donated to science so there will be a Memorial Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Eunice, LA at a date to be determined later.
Reginald was born June 5, 1927 in Eunice, LA the 5th child of Joseph Claude Keller, Sr. and Regina Guillory Keller of Eunice. LA.
In 1954 he married Gerry Latour from Ville Platte, LA and raised their 4 children in Eunice. Family was always at the center of his life and he remained close to the large Catholic family he grew up with in Eunice and the even larger Catholic family into which he married.
He was preceded in death in by his wife of 61 years, Gerry and by his youngest daughter Kelly Ann Keller.
He is survived by one son, Emile Keller and wife Yvette of Southlake, TX; grandchild Ryan Keller and wife Kelly of Tehachapi, CA and great grandchildren Grace and Owen Keller; grandchild Jessica Keller Leahy and husband Luke of Portland, OR and great grandchildren Isaac, Amos and Shane Leahy; and grandchild Andrew Keller and fianceé Nicole Lundgren of Los Angeles, CA. His oldest daughter Ginger Keller Gannaway and husband Gary of Austin, TX, and grandchildren Shane, Casey and fianceé Catherine Guzman, Evan and fianceé Tashea Gillis, all of Austin, TX. His middle daughter Gayle Keller and husband Chris Scarfi of New York, NY.
“Stretch” was a prominent fixture in the landscape of Eunice throughout his life. A 1944 graduate of St. Edmund High School he enlisted in the US Navy and served in the South Pacific until the end of World War II.
He returned to Louisiana and attended LSU in Baton Rouge where he received his degree in Fine Arts in 1950. Moving back home to Eunice he started Keller Advertising where he could be seen painting large billboards both in town and across South Louisiana and watercolor caricatures of Blue Jays and Bobcats in storefronts up and down 2nd Street whenever either school had a big sporting event.
Later he moved into the insurance business where he was an agent for Southwestern Life Insurance Company. He and Gerry’s love for adventure was fueled by the opportunity to travel to numerous conventions in places like London, Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Thailand.
He was active across many segments of the City as he was honored with the first Humanitarian of the Year award presented to him by the Eunice Chamber of Commerce in 1967, served as President of the Eunice Jaycees in 1970 and was a recipient of the National Physical Fitness Award sponsored by the Eunice Jaycees in 1972.
He served on both the St. Anthony Parish School Board and the Moosa Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. He was honored in the St. Edmund’s Homecoming Parade in 2016 as a Distinguished Alumni.
In the early 1960’s family friend Mary Alice Fontenot was creating her Clovis Crawfish character and writing the first book entitled Clovis Crawfish and his Friends. She asked Reginald to illustrate that book, which he did, creating the images of those iconic South Louisiana characters.
In 2019 the City of Eunice honored Mary Alice Fontenot and him, with a statue of Clovis located in front of the Eunice Museum on 1st Street. Another of his artistic creations was the 16’ tall Santa Claus silhouette that he built in 1953 and annually displayed in the front yard of his home during the holidays. It was a prominent figure during the Christmas Season in Eunice and is still on display each year in front of the Keller Family home on 2nd Street.
He remained an avid Blue Jay, Bobcat, Tiger and Saints fan throughout his life. In those early years his love of kids and sports led him to coaching numerous youth baseball and football teams which included many boys who grew into leading members of the Eunice community and beyond. He would sometimes chaperone his players on a road trip to the nearest professional baseball city with memorable excursions up to St. Louis and Kansas City.
He helped organize the first St. Ed’s T-Jay football team and coached them from 1956 and into the late 1960’s. Most children he’s met will remember his famous handshake and most adults he’s met will remember his fantastic joke telling.
Perhaps his most notable endeavor was born out of his love for tennis, beginning with his learning the game early in life from St. Anthony’s Pastor, Monsignor John Disch on the clay tennis court next to the church. He worked with Mayor Wilson Moosa to help construct the tennis courts at the Eunice Fairgrounds complex which was later named after him at a ceremony in January of 2016.
His presence was known throughout all tennis venues in Eunice, those at St. Edmund school, the Circle Courts on Park Avenue, the Fairground Complex, Eunice Country Club and the backyard court he built himself in the shade of seven large live oak trees.
In addition to his regular outings with family and friends he was also instrumental in organizing various tournaments, outings and the Inter-City Tennis League that brought tennis players from towns across South Louisiana together for friendly matches and social events.
He owned and operated Regan’s Racquet tennis store on 2nd Street for several years. He was a regular contributor to the Eunice News with articles about tennis strategy and practice techniques.He could be seen all over town teaching lessons to scores of children and adults which helped promote the sport across Eunice and beyond.
He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but his impact on all the lives he touched will hopefully bring back happy memories of an unselfish son, brother, husband, father, relative, coach and Christian who dedicated his life to family, friends, Church and community.
In his memory donations may be made to the St. Edmund’s Building Fund, 351 West Magnolia Street, Eunice, LA 70535.
As he is reunited with his beloved Gerry, this line from one of his courtship letters to her in October of 1949, sums up their special bond, “the smile that comes without trying, and the eyes that say ‘hello’ as easily as your voice. I realize then that I’m a very lucky fellow.” It’s comforting to know they are together again.