Keith Wallace Stevens
April 13, 1954 ~ November 29, 2004
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville – Keith W. Stevens, 50, of 703 Brevard Road, died Monday, November 29, 2004, in an Asheville hospital.
A native of Wilson, NC, and a former resident of Tampa and Orlando, Florida, he was the son of William H. and Virginia Williams Stevens of Asheville.
He had been a resident of Asheville for the past three years and was a Public Sector Risk Manager for The St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Vicki Perry Stevens; two sons, Russell Stevens, and his wife Janna, of Orlando and Kaley Stevens of Greenville, NC; a sister, Lisa Kretz of Durham and a brother, Ed Stevens of Aiken, SC.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday in the chapel of Groce Funeral home on Patton Avenue conducted by the Rev. Dr. Buddy Corbin.
Mr. Stevens’ family will receive friends from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mmeorials may be made to the West
Asheville Lions Club, c/o Richard
McCurry, 36 Pinewood Place,
Asheville, NC 28806.
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Keith was a class act. He was loved and respected by not only his fellow employees but by each and every one of his clients. He will truly be missed.
Vicki, Bill, Jenny & all. We are so sorry and you are in our prayers. There are no words that can express the grief and shock at Keith’s passing. We love you all and will be with you.
Sam & Judy
Dear Bill, Ginny and Family,
We are so terribly sorry to hear about our cousin, Keith, passing away. So many wonderful things have been said about him from those who knew him well, or just knew him from others. Our hearts and prayers will be with you all at the service tomorrow and in the coming days. We pray that God will replace your grief with beautiful memories of Keith.
Your loving cousins and their families,
Julia Paige, Helen and Steve (The Shore children)
Vicki, Kale, Russ & Janna,
We will never forget Keith and all the many great times we had with all of you. There is just not way to express our sadness in losing such a special person and friend. I hope we helped make his last months enjoyable. Good friends are hard to beat. Just know we love you and will always be here for you.
We may not be able to fullfill our plans with Keith and you, but we can still be neighbors in ‘land of the rising sun.
Love,
Robert & Diane
Bill and Ginny– So sorry to hear about your son. It does not seem natural to have a child pre-decease us, so it means even greater grief. You will get thru this with grace just as you have lived your whole lives. Believe that he is resting in the ‘everlasting arms.’
Love,
Melinda Corpening Ferguson and Tom Ferguson
We send our heartfelt condolences. Keith was an exceptional person and was held in high esteem by those of us at the Town of Forest City. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Chuck Summey, City Manager
Sandra Mayse, City Clerk
I worked with Keith at the St Paul companies until March of this year. He was a true professional and a gentleman. Everyone who was fortunate enough to know Keith and work with him will miss him greatly.
I feel privileged to have met and talked to Keith. He was a very likable man, very sincere, very professional. I pray that his family be comforted by the expressed memories and thoughts given by all. God Bless you and may He fill you with His Peace.
Bill and Ginny,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Although I never met Keith personally, I have heard so many good things about him. When he was down here in San Antonio and did a skit for us during one of our training sessions he looked to be a very smart kind-hearted funny person and will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am so sorry for your loss. Death is never easy to deal with or understand, may God bless you and give you the peace that we mortals can’t.
Vicki,
I am so sorry to hear about Keith. You probably don’t remember me but I worked with him in Maitland in the late 80’s. We had many great racquetball games and I’ll never forget how he befriended me eventhough I was a ‘Yankee’ from Boston. Great man who I will never forget! My prayers are with you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Jim Giglio and family
Virginia and Bill;
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family.
Classmate: Ray Estes and Mary
To the Family of Keith Stevens:
Please accept my deepest sympathy and warmest regards at this difficult time. It was my honor and pleasure to serve on the North Carolina Public Sector team with Keith. He was the consummate professional, who earned both the respect and admiration of his colleagues and clients ‘? and, most importantly, he never forgot to laugh. He could so easily light up a room with the flash of his smile and that mischievous sparkle in his eyes when he was amused.
It wasn’t until I had the opportunity to travel with Keith that I learned what a complete person he was. Whether squeezing in a visit with his son at ECU between meetings and a business dinner, sharing wonderful stories about his family while we traveled, or simply wishing the day would end because he wanted to call home, Keith always knew his greatest gift was, indeed, his family. Thank you so very much for sharing Keith with all of us. He touched our hearts and souls in so many ways.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bill, I was sorry to hear of the loss of your won. My prayers are with you and all the family. May God supply you with grace and comfort during these difficult days.
Vicki,
I was shocked to hear about Keith. Bobby, Frank & I would like to say how sorry we are for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts will be for you and your family.
Kathy
To the Family;
My heart is heavy with sadness over the loss of Keith.
I knew Keith only four years. Yet I came to respect him as a professional and a person.
I knew Keith to be a kind man, slow to anger and quick to help when asked. A gentle sole with a good heart.
I never heard Keith speak a harsh word about another person.
He was the kind of person I would like to be.
I am a better person for having known Keith for this brief time.
I pray God will touch each of your hearts and comfort you during your time of loss.
Dear Vickie,
Just wanted to let you know that I love you and that I’m sorry for your loss.I’m here if you need anything. May God Bless you and your children at this time and always.
In Christ,
Beth Landreth
My deepest sympathies as you mourn the loss of Keith. I can only imagine how difficult this must be. May God comfort you in this time, and may you be surrounded by friends and family for comfort.
Mrs. Stevens, Rusty, Janna, and Kale,
I remember Mr. Stevens used to refer to me as ‘Eddie Haskel.’ To this day I do not understand what he could have been referring to. I was a model youth who never ‘got’ into trouble.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Vicki, Rusty, Kaley, Ginny, Bill, Lisa and Eddie. My heart is aching for all of you. I’m so glad I got to spend time with Keith in July, and again a couple of weeks ago. We all loved him so.
I only recently met Keith, he and I having a Client in common. I instantly liked him and could see the high standards that he held himself accountable to, personally and professionally. He spoke lovingly of his family.
I will miss Keith, and will keep his family in my thoughts and prayers. Wayne
I was devastated to hear of Keith’s passing. I am new to the Public Sector division of St. Paul Travelers and Keith has been a tremendous teacher, coach and role model for me over the last few months. I accompanied him on a call in Kings Mtn. just last week, when he gave up a vacation day to help solve a crucial problem. He is highly respected by the clients and customers in Public Sector throughout this territory, and will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family for their loss.
Keith was the Risk Control Consultant that handled my accounts. He was the best Risk Control person that I have worked with through the St. Paul Travelers Company. He also was a very nice person and will be greatly missed. My sincere condolences to the entire family.
Sincerely,
Dolly L. Frazier
Vickie:Don & I are so sorry to hear about Keith. Our prayers are with you even though we cannot be there in person. May God comfort you at this time. Love, Don & Sherry Kiser
Keith was a great friend. He was without a doubt the best loss control person I have worked with. All of his clients apprciated his knowledge and enjoyed working with him. He recently spoke at a seminar for us at NC PRIMA. He was wonderful. I worked with Keith with many of our mutual public entity clients. My condolences to you. I was privledged to have known and enjoyed spending time with Keith.
Vicki, Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very difficult time. Love, Dianne Cain Sudduth
Dear Vicki,
I am very sorry to hear about Keith. I want you to know that all my love and prayers are with you. I wish I could be with you but I can’t. Please know how important you are to us. May God comfort you, Russell, Jana and Kaley at this time.
With all my love
Janice
Love you Vicki and family
Bill and Virgina, What a shock to learn that Keith passed away this morning. We did not realize he had been sick. We will certainly keep you and the entire family in our prayers these next few days. I hope to get over to the funeral home on Wednesday night although I am not sure Barbara will make it because she is having a lot of problems with her back again. Hope to see you Wednesday night. —————- With Love, Jerry & Barbara Deal.
Virginia and Bill, We were distressed to hear about your son. He is the same age as our son and we never expect our children to go before us. The only comfort at this time has to be our Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. The whole Class of 43 join with us in thinking of you and we will be remembering you and your family in our prayers. May The Lord Our God Hold All Of You Closely In His Arms! Zunita and Joe
Our deepest sympathies.
Dan & Norvelle
Dear ‘& Lisa’,
I want you to know that I will be holding you in my prayers and can only wish I were there to help more during this time.
I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas’ growing up, opening gifts and Uncle Bill’s special grits and eggs. (was it red eggs and green grits or green eggs and red grits?)
Reflecting back, I’m surprised that it was Keith that kept the lines of communication open with Ronny and myself after our parents died. But it shouldn’t surprise me. Keith showed his caring side to me when he drove 12 hours up from Florida during my father’s passing, only to make the drive back that very same night.
My prayers are with you and Ed, Vicki and the boys and certainly with my special Aunt Ginny and Uncle Bill.
Love you,
‘& Kathy’
I am the Risk Manager for the City of Greenville and worked with Keith on our loss control. I am very sorry to hear your loss. Keith was an exceptional colleague.
Please accept my deepest sympathy. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Gloria T. Moody
Virginia, Joe e-mailed us about Keith’s home-going. Sorry to read about it, but extend to you and yours, my deepest sympathy.
We were in total shock when we heard about Keith. Bill & Virginia, we just want you to know that we love you and are keeping you in our prayers. Vicki, I don’t remember ever having met you, but when we come to Asheville next May or June we surely will. Our prayers are with you and your family as well.
We remember Keith as a little boy, having not really seen him as an adult. He was so cute!
I’m sorry we will not be able to come to the funeral, as Bill is working (teaching classes for H&R Block), and I have Michael to care for as well.
Keith and I were fellow managers at The St. Paul back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and were conferred the CPCU designation along with two other loss control people at the ’92 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Keith taught me more about people and integrity in quiet and thoughtful conversations than I ever learned in a classroom. His insight into human nature was astounding. He was a great person and an accomplished professional.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We were so sorry to hear about Keith. I had never met him but I felt I knew him after the little skit he put on here in San Anotnio a few years ago. He was a sewer guy , he and two other PSS employees put on this skit. We laughed so hard. Keith was great in it. We will always remember him in this. He must have had a wonderful personalty. Please know he and your family are in our hearts and prayers. Sincerely, Sharon Melville
I have not met Keith Stevens in person, but I have heard only wonderful things about him. He had an outstanding reputation with St. Paul Travelers and will be missed tremendously. You have my prayers and condolences.
I started with St. Paul last year and Keith was the first rep that I went on the road with. He was so helpful and pleasant and a real gentleman, but you already know that. I can’t imagine what your family is going through – but I just wanted to let you know that he was great to work with. You are in my prayers.
Bonnie Rick – territory manager
May God Bless you, and help you through these difficult times.
My condolences to the Stevens family. I worked with Keith for a breif time. He left a lasting impression. He will be missed.
Sincerely,
Rose Elizondo/SATx
Underwriter/NE Team
May your cherished memories give you comfort at this time of loss.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
God Bless
Terri Miles
Senior Rater, OPS II
PSS-SA
St. Paul Travelers
Earth has no sorrows, that Heaven can’t cure. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
It is with great sorrow I hear of this news. Keith was always a delight to be around. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
To the Stevens Family,
Our deepest sympathies go out to you. Keith is a person I will always remember because of his giving to others, his sense of humor,his style and grace. It is with such sadness that I write this. My mother once told me this and I would like to share. When you miss someone, just put your hand over your heart and that is where they are. They are always with you.
I am so deeply sorry.
To the family of Keith Stevens, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Keith was a dedicated, wonderful co-worker.
Deepest sympathy for your loss – Keith will be sorely missed.
Keith was a valued and much appreciated member of the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Risk Insurance and Management Association. He contributed much to the sucess of our organization. He will be missed. Our prayers are with the family during these sad times. Bless this family.
My condolences. Keith and I worked together for the past 4 years. He was a leader in our department and a good friend. He was always helpful, cheerful, and a pleasure to be with.
Keith was a mentor for me in the insurance business. He was respected and very well liked by his clients and colleagues. My condolences to his family whom he spoke of quite fondly, you could tell he loved you guys very much. We will all miss him dearly. May he rest in peace with Gods blessing.
I never personally met Keith. But by the overwehlming sad reaction of so many of our co-workers, he must have been a wonderful, outstanding person. I am in loss for not have met him. May God bless all his family members in whatever it is that God knows you are needing this day! And may you all be full of God’s peace, comfort and power as you seek him in this time of sorrow.
Vickie: I was so sorry to hear about your husband Keith. I know that he is now ‘drawing’ up in heaven. Know my prayers are that God will give you comfort at this time. Love, Uncle Doyle Cain
Virginia – I was so sorry to hear of the death of your son. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one.
My prayers are with you and your husband.
Norma
Our prayers are with you. This is the second company which I have worked with Keith and he has always been a highly respected team member. We will miss his fun presentations, his professional insight, and most of all, his friendship.
Our Risk Control community and our company has been a better place because of Keith. May God bless you all.
Dear Bill & Virginia & Family,
We were very sorry to learn of
Keith’s passing. Please know that
you are in our thoughts and prayers.
David & Jean Moore
On behalf of the City of Concord, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family.
I only had the pleasure of meeting Keith in the last year during NCPRIMA conferences. He shared so much of his knowledge of the industry with us and he shared himself with us. He was, and continues to be, an inspiration for me to seek to grow as a gentle soul to the world. My heart goes out to you for your loss of this wonderful person.
Keith was a wealth of knowledge and great to work with. My deepest condolences go out to your family.
Annette Jimenez
Underwriting Specialist
I had the priviledge of watching and listening to Keith deliver two risk control presentations, and learned much from him in the process. He was professional, insightful, and very funny. I understand his sense of humor was something he carried with him everywhere.
A person with such qualities is rare, and no doubt Keith will be missed by everyone who knew him. My sympathies go out to his family and friends.
Vicki,
We met several times at Crum&Forster events – I heard about Keith today and am so very very sorry for your loss. I was shocked to hear the news. Keith and I worked together for several years sitting right next to eachother – Keith was an extraordinary professional and was a great guy on top of that. He knew how to brighten someone’s day or make you laugh when it was just one of those days!! After you all moved to NC, we would catch up occasionally but I had not talked to Keith for many months – I think the last time we emailed was right around his birthday. I didn’t know anything was wrong…
I cannot believe he is gone – words cannot explain how sorry I am for you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I wish you peace through this difficult time.
With our deepest sympathy,
Janice & Brian Potter
I only got to know Keith for a short time but it was long enough to know that he was a good man and he will be missed.
Dave
Bill and Ginny,
I was so sad to hear of your son’s death. I want you to know that my prayers are with you.
I am in a new company now, and I would love to see you if you are in the Charlotte area. My email is rshore@brobertsfoods.com, my home phone is 704 367 5055 and my work is 704 522 1977.
Sincerest Sympathies,
Robert
Very sorry to hear of Keith’s death. I knew him for a short time but found him very personable and a most caring person – not because it was his job but because it was him. May God bless and be with the entire familiy.
Dear Mommy,
I wish this never happened. I want so badly to come back, and have Dad here. As much as I hated watching the process, I know it was good that Janna and I were here. As many times as I told Dad that I loved him, it got to be routine. I never got to tell him that he was my HERO. The greatest Man that ever lived in my eyes. I’ll always miss him, there will not be a day that goes by that I don’t think about him and how much I wanted to be just like him. I know that I can never replace my father, but I am always going to be there for you, just as I know that you will be there for Kale and I. I love you so much, and I will miss Dad every day of my life. Love, Russell Keith
Vicki – Please know that our love and prayers are with you and the boys. We are glad that we were able to see both of you in June at my retirement. God Bless.
Dear Vicki, Rusty, Kale and Family
I am very sorry about your loss. I have not seen Keith since Florida, but I remember all of the times when I spent the night at your house and your Dad was the coolest. When I look at his picture, I remember a fun individual who always had a smile on his face. Again, I wish you all the best and my prayers are with you all at this time.
We will always treasure all the wonderful memories and are very thankful that our lives were blessed by Keith. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dear Vicki, Rusty, Kaley, Bill, Ginny,Ed and Lisa,
Today is Thursday and I haven’t stopped thinking about you all since I heard the news of Keiths death Monday. My heart goes out to all of you as I remember this gentle man with a warm smile. Please know today, as it has been, my thoughts and prayers are with you all for God’s strength. May He hold you in the palm of His hand and help you through this time. With love and friendship,
Marsha Kraft
We are so very sorry to hear about Keith’s death. He was a terrific person to work with and he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dear Vickie
I am sorry for your loss. Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you and your family. If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know. God bless you and your family.
Nick
Dear Vicki & Family,
We are saddened to hear of Keith’s passing.
We know words cannot soften the grief or lessen the loss, but we both hope that you can find some comfort in the knowledge that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Although Keith may have left this world, he will always be in our hearts and memories. We both hope that, as time passes, the hurt will lessen and your thoughts of him will bring a smile to you face.
If there is anything we can help you with, or if you just want to talk, please call or e-mail us anytime. We are here for you.
Scott & Penny Manning
(407)682-3654 – Home
(407)467-8155 – Penny’s cell
(407)467-2852 – Scott’s cell
traveler@mpinet.com
Vicki,
I’m thinking of you.
Rick
I worked with Keith as a supervisor in public sector risk control with St. Paul Travelers. Keith was a class act if there ever was one. He was a great risk control consultant and a supervisor and everyone within our organization loved Keith. He was one of the funniest guys I have ever known and he loved to talk about his family. I have young children myself and I always thought that Keith is the type of father and man that I want to be. My thoughts are with your family. I miss Keith very much.
Dear Bill and Jenny, We learned of your sons death from Emory Miller via e-mail. Our love and prayers go out to you. The loss of a child is grief beyond words. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Glenn and Linda
Hello Family:
Keith was my boss at St. Paul Ins. back in the 80s. I remember him bringing the boys in the office and the youngest use to like to play in the filing cabinets. Vicky came by often as well. You remember when people are kind to you and treat you well. Keith was the type of boss who took good care of his employees. It saddens me of his loss because I have not seen him in years. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless, Janice Glass