Mae Irene Lorah Kea

Mae Irene Kea, belovedly known as "Irene" was born on February 11, 1926 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to her proud parents Mr. Edgar Lorah and Mrs. Mary Ellen (nee Reddinger) Lorah. Irene moved to the South Florida area with her family when she was at the tender age of sixteen years old. She matriculated from Palm Beach High School in West Palm Beach, Florida and after graduation, Irene and her mother went to work for the United States Government War Effort packing Parachutes for the soldiers going off to war during World War II. During this time is when she met the love of her life, Brantley Kea who was serving in the United States Navy. Brantley and Irene married in 1948 and were the perfect match, since as the old saying goes, "Opposites Attract" and the attraction was definitely in place for soon they began to raise their own family a son, Glen and daughter, Karen. After the war Brantley entered into the carpenter field of work building homes and in between work he would hunt, fish and grow his garden along with the help of his wife, Irene keeping their family alive and well during the ups and down of times. Irene and Brantley faced a most unsettling time when their son, Glen died prematurely from an accidental drowning while out fishing on his boat in the Florida Keys. The loss of their son, Glen was devastating and even though they rebounded from his loss, they forever had that missing part of their heart taken away in his passing. Irene filled up so much of her time with her kids and Brantley in earlier years, taking them on trips to Solerno Beach to a secluded cabin that the only way to get their was by boat of which Brantley knew the secret entrance to the island where the cabin stood. She would stay at the cabin cooking all of those great camping dishes that Brantley and the kids would go out and catch or capture; including fish, shellfish and wild game. Besides the trips to Solerno Beach, Irene was quite the Roller Skater and she would take the kids to the now defunct Roller Rink that used to be downtown on the Dixie Highway near the spillway. Irene would strap on the skates and speed around the Roller Rink; speeding past the children skating backwards and showing off with all of her expert skills in skating, that she had acquired while growing up in Pennsylvania. Brantley and Irene also spent many a fun time with the children in the Florida Keys on camping and fishing trips on their boat. Irene and Brantley raised the kids around all kinds of barnyard animals of which many a chicken, pig or other critter wound up on the family dinner table and they would say to the children, "this is something that Dad caught while he was out hunting or fishing" never leading on that they were eating one of the family pets. Irene loved to sing and apparently could carry a tune quite well; she loved to sing songs by the famous "Crooners of her era". During Christmas time the house was turned into a Florida Christmas Wonderland, complete with the "Scrub Pine” Christmas Tree that she would go out and find with the kids and take the hatchet and chop down. Then she would drag it home and have Brantley patch it up with other branches that she collected from other Scrub Pines along the way of which he would nail to the tree to try and fill in any missing gaps. The tree was always a perfect fit by the time she finished decorating and adding ornaments to it. Besides all of the fun times at Christmas, Irene would cook up special culinary surprises to keep the family happy. Irene was also quite the crafter; she never really stuck with anyone particular craft but she always had a good time being creative. One of her most memorable was a beach collage, complete with ducks flying in to enjoy the ocean. When asked by her daughter, Karen "Why she had added ducks to her ocean collage". Irene simply replied, "I wanted to have them there and it looks like they belong, that's why I added them". Irene was always coming up with kooky ideas, but everybody just loved her for being that way. On August 8, 2013 following an earlier episode of shortness of breath and pneumonia; which had occurred a few days prior while she was convalescing at her home in Lake Worth and contributed to her being placed in JFK Medical Center for emergency treatment, Irene was called home and greeted at "Heaven's Gate" by her son, Glen. Irene has joined the chorus of Angels in Heaven singing praise to "Our Savior"! She leaves behind to forever cherish her memories her loving and devoted husband, Brantley; her loved daughter, Karen Doughty of Lake Worth, Florida; her four adored grandchildren, Cameron Lee Doughty and his wife, Beverly of Lake Worth, Florida, Melissa Brown of West Palm Beach, Florida, Jennifer Knopf of Palm Springs, Florida and Gina Kea of Marathon, Florida; her admired sister, Barbara "Bobby" Kiralyfalvi and her husband, Joseph of Orlando, Florida; her loved sister-in-law, Inge Lorah of Delray Beach, Florida and her ten precious great grandchildren and one treasured great great grandchild. Family and friends will meet and pay respects at Mizell-Faville-Zern Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405, (561) 833-4061 on Monday, August 12, 2013 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. A Celebration of Life Service for Mae Irene Kea will be held on Monday, August 12, 2013 in the Chapel of Mizell-Faville-Zern Funeral Home & Cremation Services at 3:00 PM. Private Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405, (561) 582-4131. Online condolences can be shared at: www.mizellfavillezern.com.