Obituary of Doris Jean (Keeler) Jacobs

Doris Jean (Keeler) Jacobs
July 3,1921-January 12, 2021
Doris Jean (Keeler) Jacobs was the matriarch of her extended family, including many friends
she made during her amazing 99+ years.
Jean was born in rural Jewell County Kansas, one of six children of Roy and Margaret (Chilcott)
Keeler.
Jean lived a full life born on July 3, 1921 ending January 12, 2021 in Tucson Arizona. Her life
included living through the dust bowl, the Great Depression, World War II and many other
events. She shared many stories of those years with her family.
Jean attended one-room rural schools and graduated from Montrose High School in 1939. She
attended Emporia State Teachers College, then, returned to Jewel County and taught in one
room schools until her marriage to George Powell Jacobs in 1942 in Harmony Methodist
Church, Mankato, Kansas.
After George was drafted in the US Army Signal Corp. Jean followed George to basic training
at Camp Crowder in Missouri. Then, to Fort Monmouth, NJ. After George shipped out to North
Africa, Jean went to Los Angeles where she worked in a defense plant and Probate Court in
the Hall of Records. After the death of her brother, Lee, in the war, she returned to Jewell
County Kansas and served as deputy sheriff under Roy Keeler, her father.
When George returned from the war they began their life of farming and raising their family. In
1955 they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. There Jean began a 23 year career at Colorado
State University as a typist, then administrative assistant in the Dept. of Botany and Plant
Pathology where she made many life-long friends.
While in Fort Collins Jean was a member of Christ United Church. She was involved with her
children’s schools.
After Jean’s retirement she traveled to visit children in Colorado and Arizona, as well as many
trips to visit family in Kansas and across the US. One of her memorable trips was a Great
Britain trip with her daughter Sheila. Jean loved attending Keeler family reunions held in various
states. She celebrated her love of tea with high teas in San Francisco, New York City, Denver,
Tucson, Vancouver, BC and Edinburgh Scotland. As Jean traveled she knew no strangers
making friends wherever she went including in airports!
Jean moved to Tucson in 1996 after George’s death in 1994. In Tucson she was a reading
volunteer in schools and at St. Demtrios Greek Orthodox Church where she learned to make
dolmades (stuffed Grape leaves). Jean was a member of Northminster
Presbyterian Church and active in Ruth Circle.
Jean will be remembered for her wonderful pies. She loved hosting high teas where her scones
and clotted cream were legendary. Jean hosted many gatherings on Haven Lane where she
was known as the neighborhood social director and keeper of all the neighbors’ spare keys.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, parents and siblings; Donald (Ann) Keeler,
Katherine (Gordon) Grimes, Lee Keeler, Nelson (Merna) Keeler, Betty (Wayne) Webber and
longtime friend Pete Morris.
She is survived by her children; Mike of Tucson Arizona, Sheila (Russ) Sullivan of Montrose,
Colorado, and Loretta McKenzie of Tucson Arizona, grandson Matthew (Ashley) Sullivan of
Seattle, Washington and great grandchildren Kailas and Audrey Jean Sullivan of Seattle. Kailas’
mother and stepfather Wonda and Todd Emmert of Seattle, Washington. A host of nieces and
nephews and their families were important to her as well as many friends.
She lived her life as an example of her favorite Bible verse Psalm 118, “ This is the day the Lord
has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Memorials can be made to Casa de la luz Hospice in Tucson, Salvation Army, Nortminster
Presbyterian Church, or the charity of your choice.
No service will be held at this time, when travel resumes Jean will be interred in the family plot
in Montrose, Kansas.