James Michael Keel passed away on June 28, 2018 at the age of 49. Michael, affectionately known as Mick, was a graduate of Mountain Brook High School, Auburn University and a magna cum laude graduate of Cumberland School of Law. Mick practiced law in the Birmingham Area.
Michael’s passion was music. His love for Led Zeppelin was legendary and his hero was guitarist Jimmy Page. Michael was an accomplished guitarist himself and played with various bands throughout the years. He was so proud of his son, Miller, who had taken up the guitar as well, and the two of them could often be seen jamming together. Michael was a devoted Auburn Tiger fan and could amaze his friends and family with his encyclopedic knowledge of Auburn Football.
Michael is survived by his children, McKenna and Miller; by his parents, Sydney and Alyce (Grantham); his brothers, Syd Keel and David Keel (Wendy) and sister, Ginger Hopper (Kurt). He is also survived by his nieces, Kelsey Alvis (Stewart) and Busy Hopper; nephews, Jackson Hopper, Hunter Keel and Spencer Keel as well as aunts, uncles and several cousins. He is also survived by his beloved girlfriend, Kathryne Smith and her children, William, Kaitlyn, Austin and Brandon, whom he loved as his own.
A visitation will be held Monday, July 2, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, followed directly by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.
Those who so desire may make a contribution to a fund for his children’s education through a GoFundMe page set up on Ginger Keel Hopper’s Facebook page.
