James "Jim" L. Keller

Jim was born on April 10, 1932 in Valley City, North Dakota, the son of James and Selma (Johnson) Keller. He moved to Portland as a young boy and attended Cleveland and Benson High Schools. On September 20, 1952 he married Sylvia Wright.

Jim began his police career on Nov. 7, 1961 as a Reserve Deputy with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department. In 1964 he accepted a full time position with the Sheriff’s Department working at the Rocky Butte Correctional Facility.

On December 7, 1968, Jim began his career as a Police Officer with the Gresham Police Department. The population of Gresham at that time was 6,600 and his original badge number was #7. Most of his career in Gresham was spent in the Patrol Division with the last 8 years serving with the Police Training Unit. He retired on April 30, 1994 after 25 years, 4 months and 23 days of service to the citizens of Gresham.

During his career, he served as a Field Training Officer for many new recruits and as a Police Firearms Instructor.

Jim was an award winning competition shooter and was a devoted teacher of firearms safety to his children. Jim also enjoyed racing midget race cars and flying in his younger years. He was a protector, a devoted family man and dedicated to his Lord and Savior, Jesus. He touched many lives and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sylvia, of Portland; daughter, Julie Ann Geates and husband, Bill, of Moses Lake, Washington; son Ronald J. Keller and wife, Leslie, of Portland; sister, Janet Friend, of Portland along with 6 grandchildren: Joshua, Jacob, Justine, Pamela, Melinda and Robert and 8 great: Christian, Grant, Annalisa, Michael, Samuel, Ethan, Kylie and Jackson. His sister, Joanne, preceded him in death.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 12:00 pm at Greater Grace Church in Portland. Visitation will be on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 10:00 am -4:00 pm. There will be a private internment. Contributions may be made in memory of Jim to the Portland Sunshine Division or to the Lutheran Brethren Seminary. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.