Ruth Keeling

Ruth Fleming Keeling, 87, of Tyler, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died Thursday, October 26, 2006 at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler. Services for Mrs. Keeling will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at the Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas at 10:30 am with Rev. Dr. Robert Montgomery of Marvin United Methodist Church officiating. Graveside Service and burial will be at 1:00 pm in Boynton Cemetery at Long Branch, Texas. Mrs. Keeling was born June 3, 1919 in the Long Branch Community in Panola County, Texas to the late Grover Cleveland and Sarah Tommie (Wyatt) Fleming of Carthage, Texas. She married Randolph Mitchell Keeling, October 31, 1936 and had two sons, Billy R. and Joe L. Keeling. She lived most of her life in Houston where she worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for several companies including Petroleum Club of Houston, Highland Petroleum and Gulf Coast Crude Inc. She enjoyed over the years many hobbies including china painting, oil painting and playing the organ. She was a member of the Texas A&M Mothers' Club in Houston, American Business Women's Association, the Christian Women's Organization and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Houston. After retirement, she and her husband moved to Tyler in 1987, where she was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church, the Friendly Bible Class and the Methodist Women's Circle. She was also member of several clubs including Rose City Organ Club, Newcomers' Club of Tyler, the Tyler Women's Forum, the Camellia Club and The Women's Symphony League. She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Joe L. Keeling of Houston; her parents; brothers, Virgil Fleming, Newburn Fleming and Haskell Fleming; and sister, Verna Marshall. Survivors include her husband of 70 wonderful years, Randolph (Randy) Keeling; son Bill Keeling and wife Sue of Houston; six grandchildren including Scott Keeling of Houston, Mike Keeling and wife Elida of Brenham, Texas, Karen Ruth Watson and husband Andre of Houston, Randy Keeling of Houston, Jodie Keeling of Austin, and Lara Keeling of Corpus Christi; two great-grandsons, Curtis and Christopher Watson of Houston. Other survivors include nephews and nieces John K. Marshall, Don Marshall, Debbie Marshall, Norma Ruth Scarborough, Kay Keeling and sister-in-law Catherine Keeling of Carthage. Pallbearers will be grandsons, great-grandsons, family and friends. Special thanks to beloved and faithful caregivers Willie Johnson, Diane Williams, and Lola Johnson, all of Tyler. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, October 27, 2006 at the Stewart Family Funeral Home at 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Texas. If desired, memorials may be made, in honor of Mrs. Keeling, to The Methodist Children's Home, 1111 Herring Ave, Waco, Texas 76708 or The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, Texas 75701. For more information or to express condolences or send tributes, please visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Ruth Keeling

June 3, 1919 - October 26, 2006