Emerson Keith Droullard

day after his 96th birthday, with his son Brent and daughter Andrea at his side. Keith died as he

lived: expressing love and gratitude for his family and his Lord.

Keith was born in Fairbury, NE to Fred and Grace Droullard. He was the youngest of three

brothers (Bob and Ken) who shared many mischievous adventures while growing up in

Nebraska. Since the Droullard family moved five times while Keith was a teenager, he attended

five different high schools in four different states. Keith graduated a semester early from Ballard

High School in Ballard, WA, and in the spring of 1943 entered the Navy V-12 Officer Training

Program at the University of Washington. After a year, he was transferred to Gonzaga University

in Spokane and then to Montana School of Mines in Butte. Next came Pre-Midshipman School

at Asbury Park, NJ, followed by Midshipman School at Northwestern University (Chicago) where

in June of 1945 Keith was commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. Keith volunteered

for bomb disposal work and was sent for training to the Navy Bomb Disposal School at American

University in Washington, DC. After completing his training, Keith was assigned as landing craft

officer and assistant gunnery officer on the USS Vanadis (AKA 49) an attack cargo ship. With the

Japanese surrender later in 1945, the Vanadis was decommissioned and Keith was reassigned to

the USS Dutton, a hydrographic survey ship stationed in Long Beach, CA.

Keith was released to inactive duty in June of 1946 to pursue his goal of a college education.

Along with his oldest brother, Bob, Keith attended Fresno State College and eventually

graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. Keith completed both a BA and an MA in

Geology, always crediting Bob for introducing him to his lifelong study of geology.

With the desire to become a successful professional geologist, Keith took a job in Casper, WY

with Stanolind Oil and Gas. He also worked out of Scottsbluff, NE and Bismarck, ND for a time

before returning to Casper where he met a lovely teacher named Eileen Arithson who Keith

later described as “filled with the Lord’s goodness.” Keith and Eileen were married in 1954.

With a job transfer, the couple moved to Denver where they established roots in Arvada and

welcomed their son, Brent Keith Droullard (1956) and their daughter, Andrea Lynn (Droullard)

Austin (1961.)

Keith worked with Stanolind Oil and Gas Company and Pan American Petroleum Corporation for

8 years. In 1959, he entered private practice as an independent petroleum geologist and

geophysicist, working primarily in the Rocky Mountain States. He was co-founder of Energy

Minerals Corporation in 1969 and in 1973 founded Keba Oil & Gas Company of which he was

president and CEO until 1983 when the company was purchased by Whiting Petroleum

Corporation. Over the years, Keith conducted extensive research in petroleum exploration,

emphasizing surface magnetic profiling, soil delta carbonate analysis, soil radiometry, and soil

temperature anomaly mapping. Keith was an active member of SIPES (Society of Independent

Professional Earth Scientists) and RMAG (Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.)

A desire to provide and care for his family as a faithful follower of Christ motivated Keith to

continue to work hard and dream big all of his life – in the midst of both joys and sorrows. Over

the years, he and Eileen built a home where many were welcomed and helped in times of need.

Keith was a loving father who mentored his children and served as a great encourager. Many

summer family projects and road trips produced a strong family bond.

When Eileen died in 1985, Keith turned to his faith for hope and joy to re-engage life. He

became more intentional in developing friendships and helping others with practical needs. As

a father and “Papa” he was a great support to his children and their growing families.

Keith was an active Christian and served in many capacities over the years in the Denver area at

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, and Faith Bible Chapel. Through

a friend at church, Keith was introduced to precious Lily McCoy. They were married in 1999 and

together shared many joyous years serving their Lord, loving family and friends, mentoring

young adults, traveling near and far, and even doing oil exploration field work. When Lily

passed in 2016, Keith moved from Wheat Ridge, CO to Everett, WA to be near children,

grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Emerson Keith Droullard was a steadfast, faithful, loving son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle,

friend, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Through his life he has left a legacy

of devotion to family and friends, Creator and creation.

Just hours before his passing, Keith sang out one of his favorite songs – the words of which

framed his life:

I love you, Lord,

And I lift my voice

To worship you.

Oh, my soul, rejoice!

Take joy, my King,

In what you hear.

Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

In your ear.

There will be a private graveside memorial service in June at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat

Ridge, CO.