Obituary: Alma Lucille White Keeling, 98, Bardstown
Alma Lucille White Keeling, 98, went to her heavenly home Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, from her earthly home on Bellwood Road in Bardstown. She was born in Washington County on Nov. 9, 1920. She would have been 99 in 10 more days.
She was a member of The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church where through the years she had been a leader of almost every class, committee and mission group. In 1944, she helped organize the first Vacation Bible School held at Cedar Creek. For several years she sang alto in the church choir. She and Lucille Siegrist, another church member and friend, diligently researched the history of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church and prepared the base for the history book written for the 200th church birthday in 1981 themed “To God Be the Glory!”
Her school years began at Stringtown and Early Time Schools. She graduated from Bardstown High School in 1939. She worked as a dental assistant for Dr. W.J. Oakley until she married Joseph Evin Keeling June 7, 1941. Five children were born in 7 years – all teenagers at one time. She took on another job in the Kroger meat department where she worked for 15 years. When her two sons were called to military service – Joey to Vietnam and Leroy to Korea – she left Kroger and began raising replacement heifers for their Keeling Dairy Farm on Bellwood Road. As the dairy grew, she attended Nazareth College where she audited college accounting classes and, at the age of 70, under the tutelage of Claire Gunning of Blandford-McCubbins Accountants learned to use a computer and accounting software for financial record keeping of the dairy and trucking business which she and husband, Joe, owned and operated.
She was the daughter of Cecil Elbert White and Minnie Merritt Hahn White (who after her husband’s death married George Brown, owner of Tom Pig Restaurant). Her siblings are C.W. White (who died as an infant), J.T. White, Katherine White Keeling, Wilbert White (all deceased); and Joyce White Goff (Johnnie) of Chaplin.
A family oriented woman, she compiled and kept records of the Hahn-White families and was instrumental in the family reunions held each September. She crafted quilts for her 14 grandchildren, her 19 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild as well as many others. Two of those quilts will be presented to her sons during her funeral. Known by some as the “Cross Lady”, she has most recently crocheted and shared thousands of small crosses.
The Keeling’s five children are Barbara “Bobby” Joyce Keeling Bekis, Ed.D. (Andy) of Collierville, Tenn., Joseph “Joey” Evin Keeling Jr., Alice Patricia “Patsy” Keeling McCray Barker RN (deceased); Cecil Leroy Keeling (Linda), and Emily Rebecca “Becky” Keeling Curtsinger (Ronnie).
Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters Dawn Keeling Astrom, Regina Bekis Schoep (Jeremy), Saundra Bekis, Julie Keeling Cowley (Josh), Amy Keeling-Walton (Jacob), Lesley Curtsinger Greathouse (M.T.), and Kristen Keeling O’Bryan (Sam). Pallbearers are grandsons Shawn Keeling, Trevor McCray, Eric Keeling (Brandy), Kevin McCray, Scotty Curtsinger (April), and Randy Curtsinger. Grandson Chris Barker is unable to attend.
The funeral is 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at The First Cedar Creek Baptist Church with family officiating the service. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at the Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home and after 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, at the church.
The family requests that contributions be made to the local Gideons International. Those attending Lucille’s funeral are asked to bring any names she may have crocheted for your families. These will be displayed at the funeral. “To God Be the Glory!”
The Houghlin-Greenwell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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