Jess Thomas Keys

Jess Thomas "Tom" Keys, Jr. was born August 12, 1947 in Oakland, CA to Jess Thomas Keys and O'Netta Scoggin Keys. He graduated from Redwood High School, Visalia CA in 1965 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps (1965-1968). He was a Vietnam War Veteran and served with 1 st Battalion/ 9 th Marines, "The Walking Dead", and reached the rank of Sergeant. He earned the Purple Heart, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (combat "V"), National Defense Medal and various campaign medals. He was a sworn police officer with Hayward, CA Police Department (1969-1977), served as an analyst with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, a Federal Agent with the General Services Administration, senior special agent with the U.S. Department of Commerce-Office of Export Enforcement, for a total of 34 years in law enforcement. He was a USMC range instructor, and a federal firearms instructor. He also worked as a polygrapher, private investigator, and a private security officer. He graduated from California State University Hayward with a BA in Criminal Justice, Class of '94. His memberships included: Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA), Blue Nights LEMC Chapter 24, Free & Accepted Masons of California Alameda Lodge No. 167, San Diego Military Outreach Ministries (SDMOM), NRA, National Fraternal Order of Police, and American Legion. Interests included: playing guitar and keyboard, motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, war history, Oakland Raiders (game security employee 2003-2006), chasing grandchildren and YMCA Family Camp(25 yrs). Tom married his beloved wife Patricia Gail Becker on June 3, 1967 in Reno, NV. He is survived by his wife Pat (married 47 years), their sons: Brent (his wife Diana) of Oceanside, CA and Ryan (his wife Courtney) of Lake Ridge, VA; his grandchildren: Alexis, Samuel, Nathan, Caden and Elin; brothers: James of Reno, NV, Russell of Hayward, CA and Walter of Spearfish, SD, and Aunt Mary Green of Annapolis, MD. He passed away peacefully with his sons and wife by his side on May 2, 2015, from complications related to pancreatic cancer. Tom was a true gentlemen and a man of faith. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2015, 9:00am at the Visalia Public Cemetery District. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org , San Diego Military Outreach Ministries at www.sandiegomom.org or CVMA 33-1, 2648 Peet Lane, Escondido, CA 92025. Hadley-Marcom Funeral Chapel, Visalia is honored to be serving the Keys Family.