John Dennis Keys

John was born on July 21, 1932, to Oliver Keys and Naomi (Sparks) Keys. His earliest years were spent growing up in southwest rural Idaho. He graduated from Caldwell High School in 1950 and then attended and graduated from Woodbury University, Los Angeles, California with a B. A. Degree in Business Administration and Accounting. Upon graduation from college, John joined the International Electrical Construction Firm of Fischbach & Moore, Inc, rising to the position of Executive Vice President of Operations. In 1968 John was made responsible for major international projects in South Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. In 1973 John joined the electrical construction firm of Foley Enterprises as managing partner for International Operations. In 1988, he formed the Electrical Construction firm of John D. Keys & Associates, headquartered in Dallas Texas. In 1995 he joined the Allied Riser Corporation as Vice President for installation of complex fiber optic systems in major office building complexes throughout the United States.

In 1998, John retired from business operations and moved to Southwest Florida to enjoy golf, fishing and music interests. In 2002, John and Jacki formed the musical choral group, "The Keytones", to perform volunteer sing-along concerts at assisted living facilities throughout the Southwest Florida area.

John joined the Marco Island Strummers Dixieland jazz band as pianist and became active in the Naples Jazz Society. In 2016 he was elected to the board of directors and Secretary of the Naples Jazz Society, Inc.

John’s interests included skiing in Colorado and Idaho, fly fishing with brother Lew in Idaho, piloting his Cessna 210 on trips around the country, and traveling with Jacki visiting our extended families in Texas and Maryland.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (Jacki) Ann (Gregory) Keys; son, Charles E. Keys; daughter, Sharlie Jean (Keys) Seiferd; 3 stepsons, Richard Genovese, David Genovese, and Paul Genovese; six grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his son, John D. Keys Jr.; brothers, Elmer, Bill, Tom, Ernie, and Lewis; and sisters, Jewell (Keys) Fretwell and Norma (Keys) Hewett.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens (525 111th Avenue N, Naples, FL 34108) on Friday June 12th. The gathering will begin at 10AM followed by the service at 11AM.