Roy E. Keiser

Roy E. Keiser, age 73 of Maryville, TN, formerly of Merrimac, MA, Plaistow, NH and Egypt, PA, passed away Sunday, February 27, 2005, at Blount Memorial Hospital. He was a member of Unity Christian Church of Maryville, TN and Pilgrim Congregational Church of Merrimac, MA. He was a veteran of the Korean War having served in the U. S. Air Force from 1950-1954. He was a member of Bethany Lodge, of Merrimac, MA for over 40 years, and Allepo Temple of Willmington, MA. Roy was active with the Telephone Pioneers of North America and was known as Clem the Clown and chair of Special Olympics for many years. Mr. Keiser has won awards and honors while playing Santa Claus. For two decades he has ridden atop Santa’s sleigh in the annual Santa Parade in Merrimac, MA and on Christmas Eve his sleigh visited every street in town. In 1989, more than 50 Merrimac officials, residents and business owners honored him with the town’s first Distinguished Community Service Award for his work as Santa and as a member of the town’s Santa Committee and volunteer firefighter. He is a charter member of the AT&T Pioneers of America Clown Troupe 78 and was known throughout the Merrimack Valley as Clem the white-faced red-headed clown who walked an invisible dog on a leash and harness in local parades and celebrations. He retired from the former AT&T in 1989. Four times a year Mr. Keiser would visit Camp Sunshine in Maine, a hospice for terminally ill children, dressed as a clown or Santa, or he would make balloon figures for hospitalized children. He also volunteered to bring children and adults who were without transportation to hospital visits. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Grace Eleanor (Trickey) Keiser. Survivors include his wife, Delorse “Gibbie” Keiser of Maryville, TN; children, Christine R. Keiser of Atkinson, NH, Matthew A. Keiser and wife Teresa of Plaistow, NH and Stephen F. Keiser of Hampton, NH; stepchildren, John Ackerman and Scott Ackerman of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Kailey Keiser and Hilary Keiser of Plaistow, Alyssa G. Ackerman and Alex Ackerman of Merrimack, NH; brothers, Rev. Larry C. Keiser and wife Beverly of Leicester, VT and Timothy D. Keiser and wife Connie of Webbers Falls, OK; sister-in-law, Jane Keiser; aunt, Audrey Fahringer; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday followed by a 7:30 p.m. memorial service at Unity Christian Church, Maryville, TN, with Rev. Darrell Lindsey officiating. A memorial service will be held at Merrimac, MA at Pilgrim Congregational Church on Saturday, March 12, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Larry C. Keiser and Rev. Gary Greene officiating. The family will receive friends and there will be a correlation after the memorial service. A private interment service will be held at a later date at the Locust Grove Cemetery, Merrimac, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Maryville, TN to the Unity Christian Church Ramp Fund, 721 S. Everett High Road, Maryville, TN 37804. In Merrimac, MA, memorial donations can be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church Building Fund, 27 Church Street, Merrimac, MA 01860. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Inc., Maryville, TN in charge 865 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com