Josephine Mary “Josie” Keithley, 84, of Richland, died Feb. 25, 2008, at her home.
At her request, there will be no formal funeral.
Josephine Mary Crumm Keithley was born on June 3, 1923, at Ottawa, Kan., to Homer and Nellie Noe Crumm.
She was raised in Kansas and graduated from high school at Beloit, Kan.
Josie, as she was known to all her family and friends, worked in several professions, beginning as a waitress, cook and at a gunpowder plant in Kansas. She worked in produce for 40 years while living in California. She moved to Baker City, and worked as a seamstress, making drapes for Fern Taylor at Coverworks.
During her life, she enjoyed living in France for two years, also traveling to Germany, Holland and Belgium. She loved to paint and to make dolls.
Josie moved to Richland in 2000 with her friends, Sam and Sherry Cannon. Macular degenerative disease over the years had taken her eyesight, but the love of her friends kept her a part of the life happening around her. She never complained, and always insisted that she had “lived a great life and did everything she really ever wanted to do.”
Survivors include her son, Paul Snethen, and his wife, Sandra, of Pomona, Kan.; two grandsons; great-grandchildren; wonderful friends, Sam and Sherry Cannon of Richland and Ralph and Carol Anderson of Guide Rock, Neb.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or the Richland EMTs through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, February 29, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor