Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

Service celebrates Yvonne Keefer’s life, ministry

A self-described “missions junkie,” retired KNCSB staff member Yvonne Keefer (left) lost her battle with cancer on Sunday, Jan. 3. Her funeral was held on Saturday, Jan. 9. Mentoring was a major part of her ministry. Mary Matthews, a past president of Kansas-Nebraska WMU, was one of her many protégées.

Yvonne Keefer was remembered for her passion for KU basketball, international travel, but most of all, for her family and missions.

A self-described “missions junkie,” Keefer died on Sunday, Jan. 3, after losing her battle with cancer. Her memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 9, at First Southern Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kan.

Keefer was executive director of Kansas-Nebraska Woman’s Missionary Union from 1982 to late May 2003.

Earlier, she served in Southern Baptist campus ministry. She was campus minister at Washburn University, Topeka, Kan., in 1967 and 1968. After that, she led the Southern Baptist ministry at the University of Kansas in Lawrence from 1969 to 1982.

Keefer assumed the leadership of Kansas-Nebraska WMU in 1982 after Viola Webb retired.

“She was able to bridge from a historic WMU to a broader base of women’s ministry,” said R. Rex “Peck” Lindsay. Lindsay stepped down on Dec. 31 after serving as KNCSB executive director since 1977.

The officiating ministers for the funeral were Lindsay, Joe Stiles, First Southern’s current pastor, and Jimmy Cobb. Cobb was the church’s long-time pastor before he and his wife, Carlene, went to Canada as missionaries nearly 20 years ago. They serve at the Canadian Baptist seminary in Cochrane, Alberta.

She married Jim Keefer on June 8, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He survives. She and her husband lived part time in Westcliffe, Colo.

Other survivors include two sons, Steve Keefer of Las Animas, Colo., and Brian Keefer of Tampa, Fla., a sister, Jean Denton of Oklahoma City, Okla., and four grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials in her name be sent to:

• First Southern Baptist Church, 4300 W. 6th St, Lawrence, KS 66049
• The building fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 296 Westcliffe, CO 81252
• Or the Webster Conference Center Elevator Fund. Make checks out to Webster Conference Center, designate them for “Elevator Fund,” and mail them to KNCSB, 5410 SW 7th St., Topeka, KS 66606. Attn: Heidi.

Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence was in charge of arrangements.