EMERITUS PASTOR
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Theodore “Ted” Keys
As told by Sarah Keys, wife
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“Emeritus Pastor Theodore ‘Ted’ Keys passed away on May 27, 2026. He loved most of all his family and pastoring Community Southern Baptist Church. His hobby was fishing, although he seldom got to do it; he was busy with his careers at John Deere and at his church. He was a pastor for 45 years, beginning in 1977 when he started his ministry in the basement of our home. By 2022, he had grown the congregation to over 120 people. My favorite memories of him are his love for people and how he would share the word of God with everyone he met.
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We were married on Feb. 3, 1973, and were married for 53 years. We were glued together at the hip! He was always there for his family – six children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. They knew they could call him and he would be there for him.
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Ted had several health concerns in the years before we called Cedar Valley Hospice. He had several back surgeries, including a complete spine reconstruction in July 2021. In February 2022, he had quadruple bypass heart surgery and then developed dementia. This took a toll on his physical and spiritual wellbeing. On Monday, May 25, 2026, he took a fall at home that he would not recover from. He would need to go into comfort care.
Our family was so grateful to God that Cedar Valley Hospice had an empty bed at the Hospice Home. The next day, he was transferred there. What a special, Godly place. The room was big and quiet, and our family was able to stay with him and sing to him. They did such a wonderful job. Their staff kept him looking so nice and were always available. They also made sure we had everything we needed.
On May 27 at 1:43 p.m., I watched him take his last breath. The staff made the transition for him and our family so easy. Their support is something I’ll never forget. We felt so very blessed to have Cedar Valley Hospice for Ted and to be surrounded by the special treatment and care they provided. We will always be grateful for Cedar Valley Hospice and their staff.”
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