Joy Blair Keele's Obituary
Joy was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada on July 12, 1918, the fifth child of seven of Laura Lee MacLaren and Bertrand Blair. She graduated from McAllen High School in Texas and attended Woodstock Collegiate Institute in Canada. She accepted her nursing credentials from Baylor University School of Nursing and had a varied career in that field. She did public health for the state of Texas in the early stages of their polio epidemic. Joy worked as head nurse at Methodist Hospital in Houston with Doctors Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley and participated in the first carotid surgery ever done. After Houston, Joy worked in private practice in California and then started the medical department at Hughes Air West. She was the treasurer of the San Mateo County Nurses’ Association for years and organized their luncheon fashion shows. She was an active 35-year member of the Peninsula Symphony Auxiliary holding many offices on their behalf. After retiring from Hughes Air West (now a part of Delta Airlines), she enjoyed a second career as a porcelain painter and was an active member of CAPA, the California Association of Porcelain Artists. A long-time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Burlingame, Joy’s service to the church was uniquely recognized when she was recently named the first honorary life member of their Altar Guild. Among her many services to the church, Joy organized and spearheaded the creation of the cushions in the sanctuary and chancel and the altar kneelers, designing the needlepoint as a narrative of the history of the region. Much of the actual needlepoint of the nineteen pieces is from her own hands. Her expert needlepoint appears in three other churches in the region. Other ecclesiastical work has included her sewing and embroidering vestments for the chapel at Stanford University and other churches and clergy. She was also an avid bridge player and an accomplished knitter. She enjoyed being with her large extended family and many friends.Joy is predeceased by her beloved husband Ralph Keele, precious daughter Marcia Pimentel and husband Steven, parents, and siblings Dorothy Parker, William Blair, Bertram Blair, Helen Morris, Bertrand Blair, and Donald Blair and nephews and niece Bill Blair, Alan Parker, and Laura Blair. She is survived by Ralph Keele Jr., granddaughters Taryn Kane (Donald—deceased) and Amber Bonderant (Eric Horst), great grandchildren Indira, Kasch, and Adler, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews. She is survived by special extended family members Lynn and Nancy Higbee, Francine Farrell, and Georgia Barron.Memorial services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 415 El Camino Real, Burlingame, on Wednesday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Family and close friends are welcome at the interment at Skylawn Memorial Park held at 10:30 a.m. the same day. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or Mission Hospice would be appreciated.
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