Mr. Howard David "Jim" Keys

Howard D. "Jim" Keys, previously resided in Weeki Wachee, FL, and returned to Indianapolis, IN, in October, 2008 following the unexpected death of his wife, Roberta Gay Keys. Mr. Keys died on March 14, 2010. He was born on November 12, 1928 to Mr. and Mrs. Myron A. Keys, both deceased. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in Psychology and a minor in Economics in 1950 and Wayne University Law School in 1953 with both a LLB and JD Degrees. Mr. Keys was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1954.

During his practice of law in Detroit, Michigan he represented a marketing consulting firm which itself rendered consulting services to various Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Keys joined the consulting company as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and performed a number of services for company clients, including Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. Mr. Keys later became General Counsel for Stokely-Van Camp and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana with his family. Mr. Keys was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1965.

While at Stokely-Van Camp, Mr. Keys was involved in Stokely-Van Camp's acquisition of Gatorade. Mr. Keys also visited various countries to negotiate acquisitions for Stokely-Van Camp, including the Dominican Republic and Japan.

Mr. Keys was a member of the Executive Service Corps where he served as the Director of Government Business Operations. Mr. Keys also worked with the State of Indiana and Governor Evan Bayh to review Indiana's Annual Budget, including eliminating non-essential expenses and exploring income potential. Mr. Keys was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Bayh for his participation in the study.

After Stokely-Van Camp was acquired by Quaker Oats, Mr. Keys was appointed to the State Employees' Appeals Commission where he served as a Commissioner and performed the functions of an Administrative Law Judge. Mr. Keys was awarded the Distinguished Hoosier award by Governor Frank O'Bannon for his service as a Commissioner-Administrative Law Judge.

In 1999, Mr. Keys and his wife moved to Florida. While in Florida, Mr. Keys served on a Blue Ribbon drug interdiction committee along with judges and local, county and state police officials and also as a member of a 25 person committee to assess county budgets and potential tax revenues.

Mr. Keys was predeceased by his wife, Roberta Gay Keys, and is survived by two daughters, Shellie Conway and Margie Lebin and her husband Alan Lebin and two step-daughters, Dr. Virginia Gray-Bowie and her husband Glenn Bowie and Patricia Gray Holt and her husband Scott Holt; grandchildren, Kristina and Laura Conway, Zach and Ashley Bell, Brittany, David, Nick and Tom Lebin, and Katie and Mitchell Holt; and great-granddaughter Amiyah Parchman.

Memorial services will be held at the Manor Care at Summertrace, 12999 N. Pennsylvania, Carmel, Indiana, on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children's Bureau, Inc 615. Alabama St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 or the Midwest Academy, 801 Congressional Blvd, Carmel, IN 46032 or charity of your choice.