Charley Elsworth Keith, 66, one of Fairfield’s most prominent business men over a great number of years, succumbed to a long illness last Thursday, Nov. 21, at 3:10 p.m. in the St. John’s Hospital in St. Louis.

Mr. Keith had been ill over a year and had been a patient in the hospital 20 days before his death. His business, L.J. Keith & Son, in which he was a partner with his son, Lewis, was managed by the latter during his illness.

His body was returned to Fairfield to Nale’s Funeral Home and prepared for burial. Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at 2:30 from the family residence, 201 West Center St. Dr. C.L. Peterson was in charge, with Rev. James Irby, Jr., assisting. Pall bearers were Carson Stanley, Jay Stonemetz, Floyd Collns of Mt. Vernon, Henry Borah, Ira A. Brown and Edmond Metzer.

At the ceremony Mrs. Mac Dowell Martin rendered a piano solo, then accompanied Mrs. Mildred Blakely, soloist.

There was an overwhelming number of friends present at the home to pay their last respects to the well known man who had spent 44 years here, and many were unable to enter the house to attend the last rites. One of the largest funerals ever conducted in this city, there was an overabundance of beautiful flowers. The family gave baskets of them to the churches for the pulpits in memory of Mr. Keith.

Interment was made at the Maple Hill cemetery. Services were condcted at the graveside by the Masons.

The business houses on Main Street closed during the funeral hour.

Mr Keith was a member of the Fairfield Lodge A.F.&A.M. 206, Fairfield Chapter 179, the Mississippi Valley Consistory and the Ainad Temple of East St. Louis. He was also a member of the Missouri Athletic Club of St. Louis.

He was born July 19, 1880, at Rinard, the youngest son of Louis James and Margaret Taylor Keith. His father and mother and one brother preceded him in death.

He came to Fairfield with his family in 1902 and spent the remainder of his life here. In 1904 he entered business with his father, following the death of his brother, Elmer, who had been affiliated with the father in L.J. Keith & Son. The company elevator, located in west Fairfield handled feed and coal and red top seed. Mr. Keith continued as a partner with his father in the business until 1936, at which time the firm was reorganized and he formed a partnership with his son Lewis E. Keith. The business house sells building material and handles sashes and doors.

L.J. Keith & Son was first organized in Rinard when Mr. Keith’s father was a dealer in feed and seed. It was started about the year 1884. The firm name has stood since that time, being managed by three generations.

At the early age of 15 years Charley Elsworth Keith confessed his faith in Christ and was admitted into the membership of the Methodist church. His membership was in the First Methodist church of this city at the time of his death.

The happy event of his marrage to Miss Lucinda Morris of Fairfield occurred April 13, 1904 and to this union three children were born, two daughters and one son.

Mr. Keith was a great lover of God’s out-of-doors and enjoyed being on his farms, and looking after his herds, as well as attending to his place of business here. He was devoted to his family and his home, also to his home town. He took great pride in the growth of this city, to which he has made a fine contribution.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Josephine VanDeusen of Effingham and Mrs. Lucinda Williams of Lafayette Ind.; one son, Lewis E. of this city; five grandchildren, Jackie and Jill Van Deusen, Keith Williams and Martha and Constance Keith; one sister, Mrs. B.F. Hesser, of LaGrange, and a host of friends who mourn his passing.