In Loving Memory of
Elsie Loraine Duvall Keith
July 8, 1931 – January 12, 2022
Loraine Duvall was born in Creston, Washington to Clayton Duvall and Phyllis Pearl Vanarsdall Duvall on July 8, 1931. Loraine was the third of seven children who grew up in Creston on the Duvall wheat farm. Following high school graduation, Loraine moved to Ephrata to work as a telephone operator. She met Jennings Bryan Keith Jr (JB) on December 13, 1949. JB was stationed at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake. They married June 3, 1950 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
Loraine gave birth to four daughters: Deborah Ann was born in Moses Lake in 1951; Cynthia Marie was born in Ipswich, England in 1953; Rebecca Sue was born in 1956 in Salina, Kansas; and Jolyn was born in 1958 in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada. During her years as an Air Force wife, Loraine and her family also lived in Riverside, California; Spokane, Washington; Sarrebourg, France near Strasbourg; Montgomery, New York; and Klamath Falls, Oregon. In 1968, JB retired from the Air Force and the family moved to Maple Valley, Washington where both Loraine and JB worked for the Tahoma School District and they purchased their first home.
Loraine was active at Black Diamond Presbyterian Church until she was a founding member of the Maple Valley Presbyterian Church. She volunteered in Kent’s chapter of Job’s Daughters while Debbie and Cyndie were in high school. Loraine purchased a dry-cleaning business in Renton and provided excellent service and alterations. Through the years as their daughters established families of their own, Loraine and JB were at recitals, sporting events, and camping trips supporting their extended family. As a GREAT grandmother, Loraine invited her nine grandchildren to visit during MVP Vacation Bible School and hosted Grandma Camp with lots of time to develop family bonds. In 1990, Loraine and JB moved from their five-bedroom home into a motorhome and traveled throughout the US for ten years; visiting companions met during their early married life, family outside the Northwest, and establishing new friendships. Wherever she traveled, Loraine created long-lasting friendships, being called Mom Keith by several families. The Keith’s often spent winters in Casa Grande, Arizona. During these years of traveling, Loraine and JB invited all their grandchildren to journey to Washington DC to visit the national historic sights and to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. One “job in retirement” was as camp hosts at Scenic Beach State Park in Seabeck, Washington. Loraine and JB purchased a home near Lake Meridian until their move to Arbor Village in Kent. Loraine was active in Bible Study Fellowship for 15 years. Loraine’s husband of 61 years died in Kent in January 2012.
Loraine was known for her humor, yeast rolls at dinners, and generosity to others. July 8, 2021, Loraine turned 90 years old and an outdoor party was held in her honor at Genesis Farm and Garden in Enumclaw. She seemed 30 years younger and was able to see many family members and friends. It was a true celebration of this amazing woman’s life.
During the two years of pandemic, Debbie, Cyndie, and Jolyn and their husbands hosted Loraine in their homes. In March 2021 Loraine was given a terminal diagnosis and made the decision to not allow aggressive medical intervention or treatment. She was supported by Hospice Care during her final months of life. On Wednesday, January 12, Loraine was in Green Valley, Arizona; all of her daughters and three sons-in-law, and a friend, were able to visit. Loraine died very peacefully that evening. A private ceremony will be held for the interment of Loraine’s ashes at Tahoma National Cemetery where JB’s ashes reside.
Loraine is survived by two sisters and one brother; her daughters: Debbie and Dave; Cyndie and Steve; Beckie and Dave; and Jolyn and Kent; grandchildren: Mandy and Steve, Bonnie and Joe, Julie and Jeff; Bethanie and Jim, Daniel; Nicole and Shaun, Bryan; Aaron and Heather, and Kelly and Steve; great-grandchildren: Sean, Kate and Amy; Rachel and Wiley; Mitch and Molly; James, Abbie and Audrie; Hayden and Brielle; Mia and Max; Hadley; and Avery, Laney, and Ryleigh. Loraine is preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers and one sister; and grandson Tyler.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to Bible Study Fellowship; or your local Hospice organization.
