GERALDINE MEADOWS KEYSER


Geraldine Lactea Meadows Keyser, 100, died peacefully of natural causes on March 16, 2015, at Calvert Burnett Hospice House in Prince Frederick, Maryland.

Geraldine was born in Winona, West Virginia, on May 21, 1914, to the late Charles Newton Meadows and Nell Straughn Smailes Meadows. Her father was a West Virginia coal miner, her mother a homemaker.

Geraldine met her second husband Burton Ellsworth Keyser through family and acquaintances of The Old Bay Line Company in Baltimore, Maryland, where Burton worked. They were married in Elkton, Maryland, in 1948, moved to Washington, DC, for a short time, then moved back to Maryland, Landover Hills area, and had two children. When their children started school, she went to work for the Board of Education in 1960 as a cafeteria worker at Glenridge Junior High School in Landover Hills. In 1966 she was promoted to Cafeteria Manager and retired from that position in 1976. She and her husband retired to Prince Frederick in 1994.

Geraldine was a special lady. To quote her 12-year old great-grandson Matthew, “She was very kind to everyone even if she didn’t know them…she had a big heart for everybody.” She loved her family very much. As the family continued to grow with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, getting together with them at special occasions and holidays were joyful events for her. She loved to cook and enjoyed collecting recipe books. She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her children’s clothes when they were young. She took a class to learn floral designs and made beautiful arrangements. She loved to crochet, embroidery and work in her flower gardens. She had an umbrella clothesline that was converted into a bird feeding station! She enjoyed many hours watching the birds flock to the feeders. She enjoyed watching the old classic movies and comedies of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. In her later years, when she would catch a rerun that brought back fond memories, she was often heard saying, “What would we do without TV!”

She is predeceased by her second husband Burton Ellsworth Keyser (D-2011) of 62 years, her siblings Walter Paul Meadows, Gertrude Elizabeth Meadows Conlee, Nell Walker Meadows Blaine, Donald Lee Meadows, Charles Lewis Meadows, and Annie Mary Meadows Kessler.

Geraldine is survived by her children: daughter Patricia Ann Kessler Taylor (F. Ray, deceased) from her first marriage to William Harold Kessler (deceased); and children with Burton, daughter Linda Keyser Callan (Fred); son Michael Ellsworth Keyser; seven grandchildren: Dale (Kathy) Taylor, Paul (Pamela) Taylor, Shannon (Mark) Pullium, Kelly (Charles) Austin, Christine (Ron) Bee, Laura (Chris) Keyser, Kevin Keyser; fourteen great-grandchildren; her sister Kathryn Meadows Archibald, Pasadena, Maryland; her nieces and nephews and other relatives.

On March 20, Reverend Winfield Tally led the funeral service held at the Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock, Virginia. Pall Bearers were Michael Keyser, Kevin Keyser, Paul Taylor, Charles Austin, Mark Pullium, and Garrett Pullium. Interment was at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Lively, Virginia.

The family wishes to thank Calvert Hospice and Calvert Burnett Hospice House for their assistance, loving care and support. Memorial donations may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

Condolences for the family may be offered on Geraldine’s online memorial at the Currie Funeral Home website at www.curriefuneralhome.net http://www.curriefuneralhome.net.