Gale (Searcy) Keeling

Gale (Searcy) Keeling was born November 16, 1950 in Prague, Oklahoma to Edward and Reba (Thoma) Searcy. She passed from this earth on September 13, 2018 with her family by her side.

Gale married the love of her life, Tim Keeling, on July 27, 1968 at the Mount Vernon Holiness Church in Oklahoma City. While Tim was serving in the Air Force, Gale traveled to Thailand to visit him for five months. She truly loved this experience, and years later Tim and Gale traveled back to Asia and again explored Thailand, along with Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. They also traveled to West Virginia to visit their son John and his family, as well as to Alaska to visit their daughter Krystal and her family.

Gale began co-pastoring Northside Church of God with her husband, Tim in 1990 and in 1993 moved to Colorado to co-pastor Lighthouse Tabernacle Church of God until 1998. While in Colorado, she began working at McDonald’s in an entry level position and quickly rose to a management position. Then in 1998, Gale and Tim moved back to Edmond, OK to pastor Edmond Church of God. She enjoyed working in the fast food industry so much so that she took a management position with Chick-Fil-A because they were closed on Sunday allowing her to continue co-pastoring with Tim. She also loved playing piano and served as church pianist which began at the young age of thirteen for her father who also was a pastor. The last church she co-pastored with Tim was Double Springs Church of God in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Gale was a strong-willed woman and managed to be successful even while struggling with complications from diabetes.

Gale loved crafts and sewing. She was noted for sewing her entire family’s church clothing. During the 1970s, the Keeling family would often attend church in matching attire that Gale had lovingly tailored for them.

Gale is survived by: her husband Tim; sons John Keeling and wife Dianne of Rainelle, West Virginia, Bart Keeling and wife Gina of Norman, OK, Chris Keeling and wife Christina of Oklahoma City, OK, and Nick Keeling and wife Marlene of Midwest City, OK; daughter Krystal (Keeling) Ratliff and husband Bill of Alaska; parents Edward and Reba Searcy of Del City, OK; brothers Rickey Searcy and wife Sharon of Oklahoma City, Terry Searcy and wife Becky of Lexington, OK, and Rodney Searcy and wife Melanie of Shawnee, OK; sister Rhonda Stovall and husband Bobby of Oklahoma City; grandchildren Asher, Jorah, Bailey and wife Madison, Jayden, Jessie and wife Meghan, Eliada, Christopher, Alan, Adam, Jeremiah, Zedakiah, Zariah, and Autumn; great-grandson, Brantley River; and a host of extended family and friends.

A visitation is scheduled in the funeral home’s downstairs event center for Monday, September 17th from 12:00-8:00 pm, with Gale’s family being present to receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm. Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at the Calvary Way Church in Prague, OK (2525 W. Main Street). Interment will follow at Kellerby Cemetery in Sparks, OK.