Keaty Real Estate
July 3, 1952 – January 18, 2019
“The Keaty Real Estate family and friends will greatly miss Al’s spirit and advice. He had the best sense of humor and lit up every room he walked into. Al was the one who made everyone feel so important. He never met a stranger and always offered his friendship. He never ceased to encourage his friends and peers through counseling, often by using storytelling, humor, and jokes. Life will be hard without Al, but I am so grateful he was a part of my life. I have a lifetime of happy memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Jim Keaty.
Opelousas- A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for, Alfred “Al” Lopez, on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas. The Reverend Monsignor Keith DeRouen will officiate the Mass. Rite of Committal will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park.
Alfred Keith Lopez, age 66, passed away on Friday, January 18, 2019 at his home in Lafayette. He was born on July 3, 1952 in Opelousas, Louisiana. He was a graduate of Teurlings High School and Northwestern State University. “Al” will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew and loved him.
Al enjoyed a life-long career in real estate. He received the PEER award in 2004 and the RAA Realtor of the Year Award in 2007. He was the recipient of the Louisiana Realtor of the Year Award in 2015. He served as President of the Realtor Association of Acadiana in 2006 and has been involved in the local, state, and national political action team for a number of years. He loved spending time with others and meeting new people which made this job absolutely perfect for him. Through his realty associations he was able to become a lifelong friend to many. He inspired others to be better.
He was known as a kind, helpful, and caring man. He was consistently giving his time doing charitable works that many people admired. He was in charge of charitable auctions for many schools including his alma mater, Teurlings High. For over seventeen years he went to St. Rose School in Birmingham, Alabama where he used his talent as an auctioneer in fund raising events. Al was very civil-minded and enjoyed being a part of the Lafayette greater good. He participated in many activities and functions that promoted his local area. Al was a fan of sports, especially football; he supported local athletics and LSU.
Along the way he became loved by many in business and in his personal life. If you were a friend of Al’s you were a friend for life. He maintained close friendships from his childhood days. He has been said to have a personality that is bigger than life and was always able to make others feel comfortable. When it came to telling stories, his energetic and animated personality kept everyone entertained.
Al had an unwavering commitment to his family. He was often first to arrive and last to leave a family gathering. Everyone loved Uncle Al. Al was known to challenge his son in a game of pool and they were witnessed casting humorous jabs at each other. He cherished the time spent all his family, but most importantly with his beloved grandchildren who affectionately called him “PapAl”. He enjoyed many summer days at the pool teaching them to swim and eating his son’s barbeque. While he was talkative with all adults he was equally social with kids at birthday parties and could bring a smile out of the smallest child. He was a trustworthy and dependable man who touched the lives of all he knew.
He is survived by his son, Andy Lopez and wife, Lindsay; brother, Edward “Ed” Lopez; sisters, Norma Fisette and husband, Lonnie and Dona Dietlein and husband, Mark; three grandchildren, Joscelyn, Leighton, and Christian Lopez.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Rosa Lopez; and his brother, Richard Lopez.
Many of us have good memories and grateful for the interactions that took place this past week in Lake Charles. “His leadership, infectious smile and mentorship to many cannot be replaced. There will be a definite void in all of us not getting to see Al at REALTOR events. I will deeply miss that call I received every week from Al that started with ‘Hey Baby..’ and we would then chat about whatever issues are going on at the time,” said Norman Morris, CEO.
Please honor Al by remembering him and his entire family especially his son, Andy Lopez and his three grandchildren, Joscelyn, Leighton, and Chistian during this very sad time.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas. The rosary will be prayed by Deacon Jerome Collins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening. The funeral home will reopen for visitation on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Doug Fisette, Skip Clary, Kenny Beaugh, John Blancher, Ken Pavy, Dale Soileu, Don Darbonne and Jim Keaty. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Brent Prather, Dr. Russel Pavich, Lonnie Fisette and Ed Lopez.
Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.