Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Oklahoma Evangelist To COVID-19 Complications

A longtime Oklahoma pastor and evangelist has passed away from COVID-19 complications. 

Charlie Keim's daughter, Jeanie McSherry, said he was a family man who was always smiling, and who loved to hunt and fish. She said his death has been a shock to their family. 

Keim was a pastor in Oklahoma for 34 years. He spent the last 16 years traveling the state as a full-time evangelist.

"He never met a stranger, every time we would go out to eat, he would be witnessing to the waiters," McSherry said. 

McSherry said Keim got sick with COVID-19 on December 1, and by the 7th, he had passed away. She said because of previous lung damage, they expected his case of the virus to be severe but are shocked with how quick Keim was gone. 

"It went fast, and we weren't really expecting it to go that fast," McSherry said. 

McSherry said Keim was known for his Chalk Talk, a type of sermon where he would illustrate his message using chalk and a blacklight. She said now, she is getting a glimpse of how many people he impacted throughout his life.

"I'm seeing that now, through his death how many people loved him or ministered by him or changed by him in some way," McSherry said. 

Steve Mowery, Keim's pastor at Victory Southern Baptist Church in Stilwell, said Charlie was always smiling and had a way of winning the hearts of people. 

"Brother Charlie was the kind of person, it didn't matter who you were, he would talk to you, he could talk to anybody," Mowery said. 

Now, friends and family are focusing on carrying on his legacy. Mowery said he left a lasting and positive impression. 

If you would like to support Keim’s family, visit the GoFundMe link here.