The SERVICE for Keith will be held at Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 13, 2017.

OFFICIATING at the service will be Rev. Jason Edwards and Rev. Mike Lassiter.

VISITATION will be held at Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri on Friday, October 13, 2017 between 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

COMMITTAL will be on Friday, October 13, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri.

The family suggests any MEMORIAL donations be given to Missouri Scholars Development Fund, in care of Honors College, Univ. of MO at Columbia.

The son of a preacher man, Norman Keith Elmore, was born 11-8-44 in Simmons, MO.   He died on 10-8-2017. During his youth, he lived in various small towns as his father and mother were called to serve in different churches.  He graduated from Buffalo High School in south Missouri and many times proudly showed his letter jacket and spoke of their basketball prowess.

He further attended schools @ Southwest Baptist, Southwest Missouri State, & Central Missouri State Colleges where he completed his Master's work in Guidance and Counseling. Along the way and while at SMS, he met on a blind date, Mary Anne Gooch, who would eventually become his wife. They were married on January 28, 1967 and enjoyed their 50 ^th wedding anniversary this year.

Mary Anne often said she would have followed him anywhere and she proved it! He took her back to the south part of the state where he had his first teaching job in Bunker, Missouri (population 407).  Since there were no other rentals available in that small "hill" town located in Mark Twain National Forest, a mobile home was brought in to be their residence.

In the Fall of 1967, they moved to the Kansas City, MO area where they have remained.

Keith was born to be a high school counselor. He loved it and was creative within it.  The students with whom he worked could feel his respect and concern for them and they loved him for it.  He taught for a time at Northwest Jr. High in K.C., Kansas and began his counseling career in the Ft. Osage School District in 1971.  He spent the next 15 years there and ultimately was the Director of the department.

Keith served in the Army Reserves (surprisingly as a dental assistant) for 6 years, after which he received an honorable discharge in January of 1975

Change was in the air for Keith and in 1986, he accepted the position of Director of Guidance for the Liberty School District which he held for the next 12 years. After he retired and left Liberty in 1998, he spent the next few years as a counselor in the Blue Valley School District . His final year in counseling (2010) was at Liberty North High School when it was opened as the second high school in the Liberty district.   Throughout the years of his career, Keith greatly enjoyed working with the staff and students he came in contact with.

Keith was very active in the Missouri School Counselor Association and served as President of that body in 1981-82.

One of the professional positions he enjoyed most was his participation in the Missouri Scholars Academy. This summer program was held on the campus of MU in Columbia, MO and was created for gifted students throughout the state.   At it's inception in 1985, Keith was the Coordinator and Developer of the personal and social dynamics component of that program   Almost continually throughout his career, he worked with MSA and received great satisfaction from his association with the staff and the students.

One thing Keith held closest to his heart was when, in 1994-96, he was named Counselor of the Year-first for the Greater KC area and then for the state of Missouri. He was so very proud of that award and grateful to his co-counselors for acknowledging and honoring him in that way.

In addition to his professional interests, Keith along with his wife, Mary Anne, were members of Second Baptist Church in Liberty, MO. Many years of worship, service, friendship, and support were enjoyed and accomplished within that faith community.

Keith's family and friends adored him. With a gentle spirit, he was always quick to encourage, listen to, advise, tease, check on their well-being or enjoy a good belly laugh with whoever happened to be in his presence.  His life has been rich with family.  He leaves behind his 4 younger and loving sisters and their families:  Kathy & Dennis Hovis, Beth & Greg Lewis, Patty & Gary Caswell, and Rebecca & Darryl Prater, along with his many nieces and nephews.  Also, Keith was deeply loved by his "other" family: Glenn and Eleanor Gooch (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) and his niece and her family, Karen, Rusty, Eli, and Mariana Andrews.  Not to be forgotten, he also leaves behind his best fuzzy and four legged friend and companion, Roady, aka Rowdy and the Roadster.

Another even closer thing to Keith's heart has been his daughter, Dana Suzanne (Elmore) Clark. He considered her one of his proudest accomplishments and thought it was a true privilege to raise and guide her into adulthood and independence.  She brought much love, laughter, energy, excitement……and only a little bit of trouble into his life! He enjoyed many visits to her home in San Diego, CA where she is married to David John Clark (a very good and wise selection on Dana's part).  Their children and Keith's grandchildren are: Grace Stella (almost 7), Connor Hiram (age 5), and Jackson Albert (age 3).  Their "Papa" loved them dearly and treasured the times he was able to enjoy with them-cuddling, reading, playing ball, coloring, and any other activity in which they were interested.

During the last few years, Keith has suffered from Alzheimer's disease which has slowly caused the Keith we all know and love to begin to disappear from us.   Keith and Mary Anne both want to thank all our friends, family, and Stonecrest caregivers who have been with us through this journey.  You have been a Godsend and we have felt your presence and your love and support in so many different ways as we figured out how best to deal with the twists and turns our lives presented us with.  Our Keith would want us to remember him as he used to be.  The promise that was made to him during his last few breathes was that we would never forget him and we would always respect and love him……and we will.  He was a very good man.  Contributions in Keith's honor may be sent to the Missouri Scholars Development Fund - in care of Honors College 210 Lowry St. University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, 65211