Dean Kebert
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Dean Kebert, age 91 of McComb, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at home on December 30, 2021. Services will be Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Centenary United Methodist Church, 500 Delaware Ave., McComb, with visitation from 10:00 am until services at 11:00 am. Dr. Jim Porter and Dr. Jonathan Speegle will officiate. Dean was born on October 7, 1930 to Ernest L. and Lena Clark Kebert in Neodesha, Kansas, and later moved with his family to St. Peters, Missouri. He graduated from high school in Ferguson, Missouri and received a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Missouri. He joined the U.S. Air Force OCS and served active duty in Korea. While stationed at Bainbridge Air base in Bainbridge, Georgia, he made a weekend leave trip to Tallahassee, Florida that changed his life. While in Tallahassee, he met vivacious Florida State coed Ellen LaVerne Jennings. Dean and LaVerne married in 1955 and moved to Columbia, Missouri where he earned a masters in geology from the University of Missouri. Dean joined Standard Oil of California (now Chevron), and they moved to Jackson, Mississippi in 1956, where the next year their son Kent was born. They were transferred to New Orleans, where daughter Amy was born, then moved back to Jackson, and welcomed daughter Kay. After Chevron, Dean joined Southwest Gas Company and eventually struck out on his own, forming Kebert Energy, Inc. He and fellow geologist Jerry Zoble operated Kebert & Zoble for many years. He was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES). Not satisfied with the highs, lows and risks inherent with petroleum exploration, Dean had a true passion for the stock market and was an active trader until early 2020. Although he never actually retired, he and LaVerne built retirement homes in McComb and Highlands, North Carolina. In Jackson, Dean and LaVerne were early members of Christ United Methodist Church (1963), and members of Colonial Country Club and Jackson Country Club where he spent many happy hours on the golf course. He and LaVerne were competitive bridge players and made lasting friendships through their bridge groups in Jackson and McComb. However, no matter the hobbies or professional pursuits, Dean was always first and foremost devoted to his family, spending time coaching baseball, and attending all his children's and grandchildren's games, dance recitals, school programs and graduation ceremonies. He was preceded in death by LaVerne, his wife and best friend of 63 years, his parents, brothers Ray and Roger Kebert, and sisters Helen Harris, Nell Willerton and Geneva Lampier. He is survived by son Kent Kebert (Lynn) of McComb, daughters Amy Kebert Elder (Larry Marble) of Jackson, and Kay Kebert Craig (Thomas) of Highlands, N.C., grandchildren Alan Kebert (Shauna), Karen Kebert, Laura Kebert, Meridith Elder, Samuel Craig and Leah Grace Craig. The family especially wishes to thank his wonderful caregivers Brenda Taylor Leonard, Emma Porter, Michelle Conerly, and Erma Winfield for the kindness and care they have provided over the last year.