Esther Louise (Nelson) KEITH

KEITH, NELSON, SULLIVAN, SHERMAN, EUDY, COWEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/21/2013 at 11:20:03

October 10, 1922 --- February 16, 2013

Esther Louise Nelson Keith was born October 10, 1922 to Norman John Nelson and Louise Hansina Nelson. Norman had immigrated in 1910 from Norway thru Ellis Island. He married Louise (of Danish descent) in 1915. They resided in Eagle Grove, Wright, Iowa, where Esther was born. She had two older sisters both preceded her in death, Eileen Sullivan and Dorothy Sherman. One younger brother, Robert Nelson also preceded her in death. Her youngest sister Ruth Eudy of Eagle Grove and her younger brother Harold and wife Betty Nelson of Virginia survive her. Esther married Howard Martin Keith on January 6, 1940 and they started their family of three, Jon Howard, Anita Jo Cowen, and Mary Louise Sullivan. The family moved to California approximately 1945 and have made their home in Bakersfield, Kern, California. Howard preceded her in death August 14, 2001. Esther loved to fish and travel in their RV. Her favorite fishing spot was Lake Meade, Nevada and Arizona. She taught many a person how to correctly filet a large mouth bass. She was a seamstress, loved to crochet, and really loved to cook. As Esther gradually lost her sight she would remember her favorite recipes and was still able to cook. Esther is survived by her three children, Jon and his wife Kay Keith of Bakersfield, their two boys David and Paul and three great granddaughters, Isabell, Lexy, and Chloe Keith. Daughter Anita Jo of Bakersfield, and daughter Mary Louise Sullivan and her husband Henry of Mt. Mesa and their three children, Mike, Brian and Tina. In addition to her sister and brother, she has many caring nieces and nephews many of whom reside in the Iowa area. She died peacefully on Saturday morning, February 16, 2013 at age 90 at Evergreen where she had been a resident for five years. A big thank you to Hoffman Hospice who provided comfort care, also the many nurses and aides at Evergreen. No services. Mish Funeral Home.

Bakersfield Californian - Bakersfield, CA
February 21, 2013