Colin "Bud" Keel

MSG Colin "Bud" Floyd Keel age 81 passed away on December 26th, 2023 at Gadsden Regional Medical Center. The celebration of life will be Saturday, December 30th. The viewing will be held at 11am CT and the funeral service will be held at 12pm CT at Collier-Butler Funeral. Immediately following the service, there will be a military burial in Valor Garden at Crestwood Cemetery at 1pm CT.

Bud was born on September 15th, 1942 approximately 20 minutes before his twin sister, Margaret Keel Cothran. He attended John S. Jones School and Emma Sansom High School before joining the military serving in the Army at the age of 17. He was one of two soldiers from Alabama chosen to serve in the Special Forces as a Green Beret, which was an honor that few rarely achieve. Bud was in the 101st Airborne and was a Paratrooper. He was proud to tell people that he had made thousands of parachute jumps out of airplanes and helicopters. He was a ROTC instructor at Weber State College in Utah and also lived many years in Las Vegas, where he worked as a security guard at a casino formerly known as the San Remo.

Alongside his late wife, Beverley, Bud enjoyed volunteering with the Queens of Entertainment, a group of men and women who would perform together at nursing homes, churches, and assisted living facilities. He enjoyed managing all of our music and also performing karaoke. "You Were Always On My Mind" was one of his favorites to sing. He also loved heating up the dance floor and would dance a lively jitterbug with his twin sister, Margaret. Bud's love for golf started at a young age when he worked as a teen golf caddy and went on to play in golf tournaments as an adult. Before his health declined, he played golf every day and enjoyed every moment!

Bud was preceded in death by his wife (Beverley Keel), his Mother (Era Nabors Keel) and Father (JP Keel), and brothers (Pat, Billy, Perry, Bert, Melvin, and Earl Keel). He is survived by his twin sister (Margaret Cothran) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A visitation for Bud will be held Saturday, December 30, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Collier-Butler Funeral, 824 Rainbow Drive, Gadsden, Alabama 35901. The funeral service will follow the visitation beginning at 12:00 PM. A military committal service will occur Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Crestwood Cemetery following the funeral services. The cemetery address is 2209 E Broad St, Gadsden, Alabama.

Pallbearers will be:

Cody Cothran

Donnie Arrington

Greg Harcrow

Phillip Williams

Randall Green

Cody McCreary

Special thanks to Dr. Jonathan Mikhail, Dr. Asif Kaleem, Dr. Katie Hardeman, Dr. Mwelwa Chizinga, Dr. Dale Railwah, the nurses in SICU and 7th Floor South at Gadsden Regional Medical Center for taking care of Bud during his time in the hospital.