Moses V. Keel

Moses Varnell Keel, 94, of Neptune, New Jersey passed away on April 24, 2018 surrounded by his family at Hackensack Meridian Health JSUMC in Neptune. He was born in Bethel, North Carolina to Church Arthur and Flonnie Keel.

Moses attended elementary and secondary school in Bethel, North Carolina. He also attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.  Moses was a WWII veteran, and he met and married the love of his life, Frances Garrett, in 1952.

Moses and his family were well known in Asbury Park, New Jersey in the early 50’s as owners of a successful restaurant located on Springwood Ave.  He was also owner and operator of “Moe’s Greenhouse Luncheonette” in the 70’s, home of the legendary “Moe’s Hot Sausage Sandwich”.  Moses was the first African American Pari Mutuel Clerk at Freehold Raceway Park in Freehold, NJ, where he retired in the late 1990s.

He is predeceased by his daughter, Denise Keel Penick; parents, Church Arthur and Flonnie Judd Keel; one brother, Arthur “Buddy” Keel; and three sisters, Ethel L. Knight, Naomi Wallace, and Lessie Carmack.  

He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife of 66 years, Frances Garrett Keel of Neptune, NJ; two sons, Gary Moses and his wife, Lenora, of Ewing, NJ; Varnell Maurice and his wife, Carmen, of Edison, NJ; three daughters, Jacqueline and her husband, Dr. Michael Brantley, of Neptune, NJ, Kyle Joy and Frances Maria of Neptune, NJ; adoring grandchildren, Gregory and his wife, Jessica, Taylor and Jordan Dow, Madeline and Maya Keel, and great grandson, Jamison Keel; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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