William Keith Southerly

As a young man from West Virginia, William, best known as Bill, joined the US Army to serve his country as a Paratrooper, Green Beret, and Combat Medic over a 20-year career.  During which time he was in the Korean and Vietnam wars earning many decorations, commendations, and medals to include two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, Medical Badge, Parachute Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal to name a few.  After his Army career he continued to serve his country as a Department of Defense Civilian for another 20 years.  He was a friend and mentor to so many young men throughout his life while in the military and as a civilian working with the military.  While stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, William met the love of his life, Naomi Roel.  They would go on to have a long and eventful life together, traveling with the Army and having four children.  They later settled in Shalimar, Florida where they spent the last 45 years of their lives together.  Bill and Naomi were married for 67 years before Naomi passed away in 2018.  Survived by their four children: William K. Southerly Jr, Barbara J. Elizondo, Patricia R. Lewis, and Shannon L. Nunnelly as well as three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  A private viewing for the family will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home on Monday, November 28, 2022, followed by a military honor burial at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1:00 PM in Pensacola, Florida.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Keith Southerly, please visit our floral store.