Paul Lawrence Keel III

Paul Lawerence Keel, III – Tre’ was born the morning of Friday, August 22, 1986, to the union of Paul Jr. and the late Carlotta (Gillespie) Keel.  His big sister, Jennifer, now had a playmate.

Tre’ was truly the apple of his mom and dad's eye.  Tre’ and Jennifer loved spending summers with their grandparents in Richmond, Virginia.  One summer, his paternal grandparents, Paul, Sr. and Lois Keel, commented, "The kids were so good, they didn't complain or fight the entire 16-hour car ride."

Tre' confessed Christ as his Lord and savior at an early age.  He was baptized by the Reverend Howard Pace, Pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church Kansas City, KS.  As a child Tre’ and his family were members of 8th Street Baptist Church, KCKS, New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and then when he was 4 years old, he and his family joined Metropolitan Baptist Church, Kansas City, KS.  At Metropolitan he was a dedicated member of the children's and youth choir.

Tre’ attended Shawnee Mission public schools and graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, May 2005.

Like most children born in the 80s’, Tre’, was on a soccer team with his sister, Jennifer.  Tre’ was happy and always lit up a room with his smile.  His dad, Paul, taught him how to swim, ski and snowboard under the watchful eye of his mom Carlotta. As a child, he enjoyed Power Rangers, Pokémon Cards, Disney movies and video games.  Tre’ was a child at heart and as an adult he kept up on the latest Disney movies, and occasionally treated himself to a “Build a Bear” on pay day.

Tre’ also loved receiving birthday and Christmas presents.  If you didn’t get him a gift, no worries, he would buy what he wanted, wrap it, and open the present on that special day.

Tre' worked at Hen House Market (grocery store) for over 10 years maintaining nearly perfect attendance. In 2020, at his Stepmom’s (Bonus Mom) urging, Tre’ reluctantly accepted a position with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as a mail clerk.  What Tre’ didn't know about working for the IRS was that he was going to love his new job and it came with some benefits he hadn’t had before. 

Tre' was an avid fan of social media, Facebook, Instagram, and posted videos often on TikTok, Snapchat. On his final TikTok video on November 11, 2024, Tre ranked his picks for the top 10 Christmas movies.  Tre’s profile shows he had over 12 thousand followers and over 123 thousand likes on his posts. 

Paul Lawerence Keel, III answered the Lord’s final earthly call, on November 28, 2024.  He was preceded in death by his Mother-Carlotta (Gillespie) Keel, paternal Grandfather Paul L. Keel, Sr., maternal Grandparents-Ernest Gillespie and Roberta Elizabeth Hooks.  Tre’  leaves to cherish his memory, his Father Minister Paul L. Keel, Jr.,  Stepmother (Bonus Mom)- Angela Keel, Sister-Jennifer (Keel) Poke, Nieces-Cadence (husband Deshawn) Morrison-Haynes, Amya Washington, Nephew-Le’Lamar Jones, Jr., Stepbrothers (Bonus Brothers)-Lester Wayne Yancey, Jr. and Aaron Yancey, grandmother-Lois Keel, Step Grandmother (Bonus Grandmother)-Thelma Hill, Aunts-Michelle “Mich” Moore, Karen Kay Keel, Renee Gillespie, Ernestine “Tina” Whitmire and Detra Thompson, Uncles-Keith (Lysiane) Keel and Ernest Gillespie Jr.; and a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends.

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