Individual Details

Death

Kathleen Jewel Joy Keith, born May 23, 1920, to Ira and Nellie Furr Joy, an original pioneer family of Hunt, Kerrville and surrounding hill country of Texas quietly passed away at home in her sleep Nov. 2, 2006. “Mrs. K’s” husband of 61 years, Lee R. “Tex” Keith were married on Jan. 20, 1945, in San Antonio, while he was serving as a Marine Corps aviator during World War II. A Texas native, Kathleen graduated in 1939 from Uvalde High School along with friend and future Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe. She took great pride in her accomplishments as a registered nurse. She graduated from Incarnate Ward School of Nursing as valedictorian and certified as a registered nurse in 1942. Her nursing career spanned 30 years working many areas of nursing, including trauma, obstetrics, general practice and private duty. She related often to her family about her experiences of caring for severely wounded World War II soldiers and her most memorable years was as New Mexico’s public health and school nurse for all of Quay County, where she administered state health requirements and individual needs for public school children and citizens of the county. Over the years, Kathleen was very active supporting her husband’s activities as a leader in the American Legion organization at the local, state and national levels. She was member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 71 from 1985 to 2006, and served as chairperson of the Girls State program committee of that organization from 1985 to 2006. She was also active in Denton’s Grandmothers Club for several years. Additionally, she faithfully supported her husband Lee Keith in his extensive activities as the Denton County Veterans Service Officer from 1975 to 1996, as well as in his cattle ranching interests in both Texas and New Mexico. Kathleen is survived by her husband, her two sons; Darrell L. Keith, a Fort Worth attorney, and William B. (Bill) Keith, independent insurance adjuster and cowboy (the honest son) of Denton; two granddaughters, of whom she was very proud, Courtney Keith Conroy, also a Fort Worth attorney, and Laura Ashley (Lori) Keith, currently enrolled in SMU Law School; and one brother, Bill Joy of San Antonio. In addition to being a grandmother, Kathleen also had two great-grandchildren, Cassidy and Carson Conroy. A devout Christian and loving mother and grandmother, Kathleen will be missed by all that knew her and is now in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for eternity. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 4:30 p.m., also at the DeBerry funeral facility.