Compassion in Life's Arena
Keely's Story
Keely Jay Drummond Schearer was from Belt, Montana. Keely grew up in Belt, Montana where she attended school and graduated in 2020. While in high school Keely met the love of her life, Wyatt Schearer. Keely and Wyatt were inseparable.
In 2018 Keely was crowned Miss Teen Rodeo Montana and traveled the state of Montana, as a good will ambassador, representing the sport of professional rodeo. She loved the sport of rodeo, and after her reign as rodeo queen helped with rodeo queen pageants and supported rodeo in many facets. Keely traveled with Wyatt to rodeo events across the western United States where he is a PRCA team roper. Keely took pride on making sure their horses were groomed to the highest level and all of Wyatt’s tack matched when he entered the arena. Keely was Wyatt’s biggest fan. The two of them had an entrepreneurial spirit. Keely and Wyatt started the Lazy 8 company together for rodeo apparel and clothing. Keely loved to model their stylish hats. But that was just the beginning, they also started Lazy 8 Horses where they bred, raised, trained, and sold quality ranch and rodeo quarter horses together.
In 2020, Keely enjoyed spending the winters in Arizona where they trained horses together and enjoyed staying away from the snow and Montana winters.
Keely excelled after high school and in 2022 received her Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. Keely loved to travel the world and started her own travel agency after college called Seven Wonders Travel by Keely. She and Wyatt had many great adventures traveling together. They were able to visit many places including Africa, England, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and many places in Europe. Keely loved getting her passport stamped in as many places as she could.
Cancer Strikes- In August of 2020, Keely was diagnosed with Uvea Melanoma at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. This is a Choroid Melanoma which sits in the back of the eye. This cancer is super rare, only 6 in every million people get it and only about 2000 per year in the United States. Keely's case was even more rare, because less than 1% of the patients who contract this cancer are under 20 years of age, and she fell into that category. Keely had had plaque radiation to help stop the melanoma from growing. The tumor had decreased through these treatments.
Four years later, starting in the middle of May 2024, Keely started having pain in her side. Wyatt, her fiancé at the time, took her to the emergency room, and they found several tumors on her liver. He and Keely knew they needed to go somewhere with a larger hospital, so they got on the next flight to Minnesota, where they went to the Mayo Clinic Hospital. After a few days of testing, the medical staff confirmed that her eye cancer from several years ago had spread to her liver and had reached stage 4 liver cancer. Keely started treatments a few days later with a great oncology team. They treated her with immunotherapy and radiation and slowed the tumors down a little. The doctors threw everything they had at it, trying anything that might help. Keely handled everything like a true warrior. After Keely had a negative reaction to the treatment, the doctor said they could not do another dose. Wyatt and Keely flew to Houston to get a second opinion at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their staff had the same ideas that Mayo had already tried and encouraged them to travel back to Mayo Clinic. So back to Mayo they went. They wanted to consider another treatment, but with her oncologist doing lots of research, he said that it would not be a good option and it would be a bad choice. Wyatt and Keely flew home with family and started at home hospice. Wyatt and Keely were planning on getting married on September 7, 2024. With all the curveballs and health issues they had been thrown, they wanted to be married. So, without telling anyone, they went to the courthouse in July and had their very close friends, the Ashley’s come and meet them. He was going to officiate the upcoming ceremony in September. They had a nice reception with very close family and a few friends a few days later.
Keely was a fighter and kept working on getting stronger every day. Wyatt and Keely made memories and spent so much time together. They just enjoyed each other and always made each other feel special.
After a tough battle with cancer, she had a great day on Monday, but then early in on Tuesday morning of August 27th things took a very big turn for the worse and she was welcomed into her Heavenly Father’s Arms. Her body had fought so hard, and it just couldn’t go anymore. Keely passed away very peacefully in her sleep.
Keely wasn’t a fan of flowers because she said, “All you do is spend money and then throw them away.” So, she requested that Wyatt would start an organization to help people in need who are going through medical hard times. Keely was so grateful for those who helped her during her battle. Keely was always looking for ways to help others. Wyatt shared, "I know without a doubt the love of my life is in a pain-free body in Heaven with the Lord and lots of friends and family. She was truly such an amazing woman and I’m so glad that we were able to get married and I could call her my wife. She meant the world to me, and she will always be my true love and the one I will never stop thinking about. This has been a very, long journey and God has shown Himself so much and I know she’s in a better place. I’m very sad losing my best friend, but I’m rejoicing she’s in such a better place and I can’t wait to see her soon in Heaven.”
Honoring Keely, Wyatt started the Keely Cares Foundation. A 501C3 non-profit foundation to help people in need who are going through medical hard times. Keely wanted others to know they were not alone, and that someone cared to help. Please consider giving to this great cause. Through your giving, her life will continue to always shine. Keep the memory of Keely by helping others. Please click on the GIVE A GIFT tab for more information.