Gary Turner Keyser

Gary Turner Keyser, age 78, of Front Royal died Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center in Winchester. A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Riverton United Methodist Church with Reverend Mike Derflinger officiating. Burial will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Mr. Keyser was born in Warren County on May 24, 1934, the son of the late Hallie Benton and Audra Kathleen Brown Keyser. After serving in the Air Force he began a career in Law Enforcement, in 1957 he became a Police Officer for the Town of Front Royal, in 1963 he was elected Sheriff of Warren County and served until 1974. In 1968 he was listed in Outstanding Men of America and in 1971 Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer. 1974 he became an inspector for the Virginia Department of Corrections and in 1978 became an Extradition Officer for the same department. From 1982 until 1996 he served as the Superintendent of the White Post Correctional Unit #7 where he started the first Work Release Program in Warren County. His memberships include the Front Royal Rotary Club, Jaycee’s, Lions Club, Board of Directors for the American Red Cross, Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, the Cedarville Ruritan Club, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge 374, Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department and the Director of the Virginia State Sheriff’s Association. Mr. Keyser is survived by his wife, Betty Casarotti Keyser; his daughter, Kathy Henry and husband Edward W. Henry, II of Strasburg; grandchildren, Jessica Blair Henry and Danielle Nicole Settle and husband Stewart; great-grandchildren, Sierra Nicole Teague and Christopher John Ramey. In addition to his parents, Mr. Keyser was preceded in death by his son, Gary Scott Keyser. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Riverton United Methodist Church, 55 E. Strasburg Rd., Front Royal, VA 22630. Pallbearers will be Len Armentrout, Hal J. Meredith, Dusty McIntosh, J. C. Rudacille, Mike Tennett, Blain Tewalt and Ronnie Cromer, Sr. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Shiflett, Warren County Sheriff’s Department and White Post Correctional Unit #7 Staff. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Warren County Fire and Rescue, 221 S. Commerce Ave., Front Royal, VA 22630 or the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Dr., Front Royal, VA 22630.