Keely, Robert "Bob" Joseph III, was fortified with last rites and died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the age of 70 in Los Angeles, California. He was an accomplished businessman and a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, co-worker and friend to many.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert J and Margaret C. Keely of St. Louis, Missouri.
Bob was born on February 26, 1948 in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Christian Brothers College high school in 1966. Early on in his career Bob developed an affinity for the shoe manufacturing industry. He started his career in Nashville, Tennessee and from there held several sales, design marketing, and leadership roles for shoe manufacturing companies in New York, Los Angeles and St. Louis. In 2002, he started his company, B&B Footwear in Los Angeles, focused on the design, manufacturing and wholesale production of quality, trend-setting shoes to sell to well known shoe label brands. The company was extremely successful due to his creativity, passion and drive for providing an excellent product to his customers and surrounding himself with loyal partners and employees.
He is survived by his brothers Tom Keely, John Keely and Joe Keely (Anne); sisters Maggie Foley and Mary (Rob) Novak, all of St. Louis, MO; nieces and nephews Meg Bradshaw (Brandon), Maura Foley (Jeff Jackson) , Brenna Foley, Clare Foley, Bobby Keely, Emily, Katie and Christopher Novak, and Miller and Libby Keely; great niece Keely Bradshaw and great nephew Clark Jackson; as well as countless cousins, friends, and business associates.
Bob will be best remembered for his generosity toward others, his passion and drive for his work, his desire to mentor others, and a keen ability to create long-lasting and trusted relationships throughout his lifetime. He will be sadly missed by everyone whose lives he touched. Bob was always on a surreptitious search for someone to help – always trying to avoid credit or praise.
The family will be holding private celebrations of his life in both Bel Air, CA and St. Louis, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his cousin's (Fr. Steve Giljum) inner-city parish, St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Church, 4330 Shreve Ave., St. Louis, MO 63115. The family would also like to thank the caregivers at UCLA Medical Center for their dedicated care and compassion toward Bob.
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