Shirley Grace Keeler

Our beloved Shirley went to her Lord on Tue., March 2, 2010 in Everett, WA. She was born in a farmhouse in Dupree, South Dakota on Jan. 22, 1921, and her parents, Leo and Helen Echelbarger, moved the family in the fall of 1922 to homestead in Alderwood Manor. She had one older brother, and was the older sister to six brothers, and one sister. She learned parenting skills early and helped her mom care for the large family on the farm. The war brought more duties with four brothers away, including working in the family business driving an oil delivery truck. A graduate of Edmonds High School in 1939, she attended OSU for one quarter until called home to help after the birth of her sister. She married her true love, Frank Keeler on November 16, 1944, and they recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. She has two children, Joni Schwenke (husband Cleve) and Jill Steele (husband Tim), four grandchildren, Troy Schwenke (wife Christy), Christy Synsteby (husband Micah), Tara Olvera (husband Fernando), Brady Coan (girlfriend Heather), and two great grandsons, Kyle Schwenke (3 yrs) and Kayden Schwenke (5 mos). She was an original member in the SnoKing Chorale and sang in the church choir for many years. Many winters were enjoyed in Hawaii and for the past 20 years in Palm Springs at their desert home. Summers were enjoyed swimming with family and friends at their private pool. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents Leo and Helen Echelbarger, and her brothers, Don, Kent, Dale, and Stanley. She is survived by her brothers Dean, Wylie, Alan and her sister Jeanne. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alderwood Manor Heritage Assn., PO Box 2206, Lynnwood, WA 98036. A Service will be held Tuesday, March 9, at 1pm at Alderwood Manor Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Lynnwood.