William "Billy" Keyes' Obituary
William Snowden Keyes, aka “Billy” Keyes, long time resident of Arundel on the Bay, passed away on Valentine’s Day at Heart Homes in Annapolis, MD. Leaving behind a legacy of resilience and creativity that will live on in all who knew him.
Billy Keyes was the oldest son, born May 2nd, 1921, to Annie Payne Keyes and Charles Snowden Keyes of Washington, D.C. He is predeceased by two brothers, a sister, three children and three wives: Edward (Detroit), Robert (Washington, D.C.) and Adele (Washington, D.C.) and Tony, Cecelia, and Charles. He is survived by his daughter Jutta Butler, his son Erich Keyes, and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Billy Keyes grew up in Washington, D.C., on Florida Avenue, completed high school in New Orleans at Xavier Preparatory School. He then returned to Washington, D.C., married his first wife, Naomi in 1941. In 1944 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, he received an honorable discharge in 1946. Following this he had several low-level positions in the U.S. government. During this time, he had divorced his 2nd wife, Clara Bow and then in 1958 he married Anni Hessler, the mother of Erich and Jutta. (She passed away in 2013.) At age 47 he decided to go back to college to complete his degree (B.S. in Education) in 1968-1972 from D.C. Teacher’s College (now UDC). He then went on to get a master’s degree from University of District of Columbia. He enjoyed a career in the field of education, primarily as a counselor at McKinley Tech in Washington D.C., and then as a substitute teacher at South River High School until he retired when he was 96.
He was an accomplished artist; he expressed himself through vibrant abstract art and delightful cartoons. His creativity was not only seen on canvas and paper but felt in the joy he brought to others. He had an extraordinary sense of humor, the kind that caught you off guard and left you smiling. Whether through a quick-witted remark, playful drawing, or one of his many tall stories, he had a gift for making people laugh and make them feel at ease. His jokes will echo in our memories. His art will remain a reflection of his unique spirit and the laughter he inspired will continue to ripple through generations. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
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