Keith Willis Woolery

Keith Willis Woolery, 75, of Denton, Texas, passed away on June 8, 2025, at Faith Presbyterian Hospice’s T. Boone Pickens Center in Dallas. He was born on Flag Day (June 14), 1949, in Newton, Kansas, to Lorin Willis and Nellie Mae Price Woolery.

As a child, Keith was an avid hunter and trapper who enjoyed keeping unique pets, including an alligator named “Friendly” and a skunk named “Sweet Pea.” He attended Washington Grade School, Chisholm Junior High, and Newton High School (NHS), graduating in 1967. That year, he received the Outstanding Musician Award and was active in Band, Orchestra, and Stage Band—the school’s first jazz ensemble. He was also NHS's first drum set player in the Pep Band.

Keith met Donna Lou Esau when they were just 17 and 15, respectively—while on double dates with other people. Their first date was at Savute’s Italian Ristorante in Wichita, and they married on May 16, 1971, at Bethel College Mennonite Church. They recently celebrated their 54th anniversary and often laughed about their bold choice of wedding music, which included selections from West Side Story and The Beatles.

Keith earned an Associate of Arts in Music from Hutchinson Community Junior College, where he also helped his bowling team reach the finals of the National Junior College Athletic Association Competition. He later earned a Bachelor of Music Education with concentrations in percussion and composition from Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University)—strategically changing majors every other semester to avoid marching band. He continued his studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned an Artist Certificate in jazz and commercial composition and arranging.

While in college, he founded the Keith Woolery Band. After graduation, the band toured for a decade, performing in 39 states and several Canadian provinces, creating lifelong friendships and memories. Keith composed and arranged numerous songs, charts, and commercial jingles throughout his career.

When he and Donna decided to start a family, they returned to Newton to be near relatives. Keith briefly worked at Jantz & Woolery Plumbing & Electric before beginning a 35-year career teaching instrumental music to grades 5–12 at Santa Fe Middle School, Chisholm Middle School, St. Mary’s Catholic School, and Newton High School. He also served as Music Coordinator for Unified School District 373. His jazz bands consistently earned top honors, and many of his former students went on to careers in music. A skilled trip planner, Keith organized memorable student trips to places including New Orleans and the Ozarks. He also coached Newton High School’s bowling team and taught music as an adjunct instructor at Hutchinson Community College.

Keith’s leadership extended beyond the classroom. He was Past President of the Kansas Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) and chaired IAJE’s International Committee for Planning and Development, helping craft the organization’s secondary curriculum. He twice served as State Jazz Chairperson for the Kansas Music Educators Association and completed three terms on its Board of Directors. For 25 years, he ran the Kansas State 5A Music Festival and served as an adjudicator for the Kansas State High School Activities Association. He was a proud board member of the Charles Olson Memorial Scholarship which supports music students in Newton, and was inducted into the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame in 2018.

A passionate supporter of the arts, Keith was Past President of the Newton Community Theatre Board and played drums for many years with Wichita’s Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre. He directed pit orchestras for dozens of musicals and performed with entertainment legends including Bob Hope, Red Skelton, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Marvelettes, and jazz greats such as Eddie Daniels, Rich Matteson, Stan Kenton, and Clark Terry. He was also a longtime timpanist with the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra and served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Great Plains Jazz Orchestra.

Keith loved traveling—especially to New Orleans and anywhere with a beach. He had a talent for numbers: he once won a math competition by offering a solution the judges hadn’t anticipated, served on the board of The Walton State Bank, and was a fierce competitor in Monopoly. He never met a stranger, delighted in bragging about his students and family, and was known for his cheesy jokes and inspirational quotes. Keith never spoke unkindly of others and was beloved as a mentor, teacher, friend, and hero.

After retiring, Keith and Donna moved to Denton, Texas, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Though their 50th anniversary trip to Paris was canceled due to Covid, Keith instead designed a backyard oasis—complete with a pool, hot tub, waterfalls, palm trees, and magnolias—that brought endless laughter and joy to family and friends. He was a devoted and loving father and grandfather, frequently attending concerts, recitals, plays, and family outings.

After surviving a hemorrhagic stroke last year, Keith made an extraordinary recovery with the help of a dedicated care team and was able to direct the Great Plains Jazz Orchestra one final time at the Kansas State Fair. Even after receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, he remained steadfastly optimistic and courageous, continuing to inspire everyone around him. We’re certain he is now enjoying another great gig in the sky.

Visitation will be held at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A second visitation will take place in Newton, Kansas, at Peterson Family Funeral Home, on June 13, 2025 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 14, 2025—Keith’s birthday—at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kansas, with a graveside service to follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Keith is survived by his wife, Donna Woolery of Denton; his children, Jesse Woolery (Libby Quigg) of Ponder and Danielle Woolery of Sanger; and his grandchildren, Venezia (Veni), Ocean, Atlas, and Boone Quigg-Woolery of Ponder. He is also survived by many extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lorin and Nellie Woolery of Newton.

Memorials may be made to the Woolery Family Music Scholarship Fund, C/O CKCF, 400 S Main, Suite 100, Newton, KS 67114.