Verna Keast *
Verna Evelyn Keast, age 89, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2005 at the Liberty Country Place in Centralia, WA. She has been a resident of Centralia for the past 16 years.
She was born to Calvin and Anna (Zimmerman) Heck in New Springfield, Ohio on September 28, 1916. One of two children, she graduated from high school and married Harold Jacob Keast on September 24, 1936.
The couple resided in Ohio where she was employed with JC Penneys. They relocated to Phoenix, AZ in 1948, where they lived for 30 years, prior to moving to Las Vegas for 10 years, then Kingman, AZ for 10 more, moving to Centralia to be nearer family.
She was an optometric assistant working for private optometrists for over 20 years. Since retirement she has enjoyed working in local grocery stores doing food demonstrations, always dressing with professional pride and dignity.
A hardworking home-maker and mother, she enjoyed the quiet pleasures of sewing and and reading, RV traveling, even then, acting as Camp Ground Hosts in various camp-grounds in California. She always loved going to the beach and enjoyed playing the penny slots. She was an active member of Twin City Senior Center, and Centralia Community Church of God, and their Prime Time Group.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Harold of Centralia; son, Bob (Anne) Keast of Carson City, NV; and daughter, Pat (Steve) Floyd of Adna, WA & 3 grand-children and 6 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Mervin and grandson, Jerry Person.
A Visitation will be held between the hours of 3-7 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary, Centralia, WA. A Funeral Service will begin at 1:00 PM at the Centralia Community Church of God on Wednesday, Dec. 14 and will conclude at the church. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Chehalis, WA.
Arrangements under the care and direction of Newell-Hoerling’s, Centralia, WA.
The Chronicle December 14, 2005