Melvin C. Keyes was born at Detroit, MI, on October 24, 1931 the son of Melvin and Edith Keyes. He grew up in Detroit and joined the Marines in 1949 and served until 1954. In 1955 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1973. He served in both the Korean And Vietnam Wars and received the Bronze Star while serving in Vietnam. During Mel's military career, he was an electronics specialist supervisor primarily in radar tracking and jamming. He was stationed Illinois, Mississippi, California, South Dakota, Germany and Nebraska. Melvin and his wife Rosalie and their children enjoyed traveling in Europe the three years he was in Germany.

In 1988, Mel moved to Griswold and began a fruitful career as caretaker of the Wakonda Prayer House, and the Creighton University Retreat Center after Father Laverne Wingert sold the property to Creighton. He used his carpentry and electrician skills to build up the property as it is today. Declining health necessitated his retirement to Coeur d'Alene, ID, in 2007 such that he could be closer to family.

Melvin had a strong love for God and for the Church. Although he maintained close relationships with family, he found his true home at the Retreat Center and great rewards in the friendships he established in Griswold. His life's work was to create a place for people to pray; for Mel, this was the Lord's vineyard. He relished daily Mass and being a daily Communicant. He was a member of the American Legion, the fourth degree Knights of Columbus, and Our Lady of Grace Catholic parish in Griswold.

Mel died October 27th at Coeur d'Alene after a 10-month battle with cancer at the age of 78 years and 3 days. His parents and brother Jim Keyes preceded him in death.

Mel's survivors include his daughters Romel Keyes of Coeur d'Alene and Dawn Keyes Scott of Fort Collins, CO, and his son Michael Keyes of Fort Collins, his sons-in-law Steve Bean of Coeur d'Alene and Patrick Gragg of Fort Collins, his 5 grandchildren as well as his brother Jerry Keyes and his sister Gilberta Keyes both of Michigan.