Morris Johnson Keesee

On November 14, 2025, Morris Johnson (“Johnny”) Keesee III died with his wife, Fran, daughter, Kathryn, and granddaughter, McKenzie by his side. He was 81 years old and had lived courageously with cancer for seven years.

Johnny was born in Meridian, Mississippi, the son of Morris and Virginia Keesee. He graduated from Clarksdale High School in 1962 where he was senior class president and Mr. CHS. He then attended Ole Miss and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in business. As a junior in high school, he began dating the love of his life, Fran Simmons who he married the summer before his senior year of college. The couple settled in Clarksdale, where Johnny joined Fran’s father managing a large farming operation, growing cotton, soybeans, and other crops that thrived in the heat of the Mississippi delta. Together they raised one daughter, Kathryn.

After 30 years navigating the uncertainties of farming, Johnny retired from farming and dabbled in real estate. Deeply rooted in his Episcopal faith, Johnny served his hometown church, St. George’s Episcopal,as both junior and senior warden. He then served on both the Standing Committee and the Executive Committee of the diocese of Mississippi as well as the board of the Duncan M. Gray Episcopal Center for the diocese. He eventually became the interim director of Gray Center, which led to the next big chapter in his life.

Encouraged by a long-time friend, Johnny and Fran came to Western North Carolina in November of 2002 to interview for the position of Executive Director at the recently purchased Lake Logan, formerly the corporate retreat for Champion paper in Canton, NC. For Johnny and Fran, Lake Logan was remote, far from home, and cold. It was encumbered with debt, badly in need of major repairs, and without any guest history. Johnny felt called to accept the challenge. Revered by staff, camp counselors, clergy, guests and other stakeholders, by the time Johnny retired from this second career he had managed to achieve his goal of building Lake Logan Episcopal Center into a thriving and sustainable ministry of hospitality.

Johnny is survived by his wife of 60 years, Fran Simmons Keesee, and their daughter, Kathryn Butler of Austin, TX, and two grandchildren, McKenzie Rader and Benjamin Rader and nephew, John Milwee. He is predeceased by his parents, and sister, Marie Keesee Milwee of Little Rock, Arkansas. 

For Johnny, there were only two seasons: Turkey hunting season and the rest of the year. Over the years, he perfected his imitation of a female turkey to attract the toms. Each year he opened the season in the Deep South, then followed it across the country in search of every species of wild turkey in North America - even once to Guatemala for the elusive Ocellated turkey - sharing the journey with friends in every region. For him, bird hunting was as much about the camaraderie as the sport. The companionship he found in fellow hunters was one of the true pleasures of his life. 

After his diagnosis with lung cancer, Johnny never gave up. He underwent arduous treatments, operations, and procedures, never losing his sunny disposition, optimism, and grace in spite of his pain. His care providers admired his fighting spirit and determination as he fought to recover from setback after setback. In the end, his spirit was still willing but his body was not.

A memorial service will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Johnny’s memory can be made to Lake Logan Conference Center, www.lakelogan.org or the charity of your choice.