- He was a family man.
- His marriage; One of my favorite mental images of Keith and his wife, Carlene, is when they dressed up in Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” for a party at the church. Their marriage was so solid and sweet that simply to be around them had a powerful influence on people. Carlene, one of the godliest women I have ever known, was a beacon of faith especially as she endured a long fight with cancer which finally took her life.
- His children; I had the pleasure of watching his children grow up. From watching them play biddy ball to watching them get married, I watched Keith be an incredible father to Jim, Tom, and Ginger.
- He was a man of faith.
- Keith was not only faithful to attend church every Sunday morning, he was a man whose faith was as important to him on Wednesday as it was on Sunday. And I loved to hear him sing!
- He was involved in the community.
- His leadership was unique because he was a quiet leader. Whether it was president of a church board or the school board, Keith didn’t always have a lot to say, but when he did, everyone listened. Keith carried a lot of weight with his opinions because he observed first, then spoke.
- He embraced change.
- I introduced a contemporary music to the church and some of the old folks were grumbling. Keith was the linchpin in getting it accepted in the congregation when he said, “I always thought you were supposed to have a long, sad face in church, but now I realize it’s a place of joy.” Keith later joined the praise team and was a voice of comfort and challenge for the congregation.
- He was able to work with those with whom he differed.
- Working with Keith in the church, we didn’t always see eye-to-eye but he always treated me with respect. Keith once said to me, “I might not have liked what Rick McNary said or did, but I always liked Rick McNary.” I often think of that phrase when I relate to people with whom I disagree. That is a principle of leadership that is more powerful than I realized at the time.
- He was a hard worker.
- If you ever heard Paul Harvey’s, “So God Made A Farmer,” then you know Keith Sommers.

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