Ray David Keller

Ray David Keller passed away on August 7, 2026.  He is survived by his wife, Valerie Jean Boehmer, and his only child, Kansas Keller.

He was born on December 15, 1945 at Cedars Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles, California. His parent were Robert Keller and Caryl Wexelman.

Ray grew up in L.A. and Beverly Hills. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1963 and later attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, briefly, to avoid the Vietnam War.

When he left the College of Idaho, he received his papers from Selective Service. He knew then he was leaving the country. He ordered a transporter bus from Volkswagen in Hannover, Germany, and added an 8-track tape. He traveled with a young lady who was surfer like himself. He went all over Europe and Turkey.

HIs friend made him a satchel out of velvet to carry passports, keys, and anything they could easily lose. When Ray came back home, he hung it on the wall in his home. His father noticed it and asked Ray about it. He told Ray to make them and that's how "Carpet Bags of America" was formed.

Ray and his friend, Mark Slotkin, sold their expensive cars and went into the ladies handbag business. Ray went to New York, bought a handbook on who the buyers were that bought accessory items. He then sold the business to his partner, Mark Slotkin. With the money from the sale of the business, Ray bought the James Cagney home in Beverly Hills, California. 

Ray had a love and passion for fast cars, In high school, his father bought him a Corvette and later a Porsche. So, Ray fell in love the the Ferrari. Ray had dinner with Enzo Ferrari one night in Italy. He started buying Ferraris in Europe and sent them to the United States to sell. He met a racecar driver named Michael Parkes who drove one of Ray's Ferrari's in the United States. If you look up "Funny Little Story", you don't have to add Ray Keller.

Later in life, in his forties, he went into real estate in Beverly Hills and Brentwood. He was very successful until the market went south. He then became very successful in the timeshare business in Las Vegas, working for Tahita Village. His best friend and boss was Chuck Rouse.

I met Ray shortly after he left working in the timeshare business. We moved to Ely, Nevada and started a business called Wolfie's Firewood, which was very successful, thanks to our dog, Wolfie.

He will be remembered for his love of family, sense of humor, and being a very hard worker.