Ella Rae Keeney

Ella Rae MacDonald Keeney of St. Simons Island, Georgia, died peacefully on August 4, 2024, after a period of naturally declining health. She was a few months shy of 91 years of age. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Donald R. Keeney, two sons, Kanyon Keeney (Tami) and Kris Keeney (Carla), and 7 grandchildren, Austin Bailey (James), Molly Keeney, Jesse Keeney Shaffer (Chris), Madeline Keeney, Pryce Keeney, Gunnar Keeney and Garrett Keeney.

Ella Rae was born October 31, 1933, in the small southern Utah ranch town of Kanab, Utah. Her father was a cattle rancher, and Ella adored her “Papa.” She was the youngest of nine children, several of whom were rambunctious boys who teased their little sister incessantly. She loved her brothers and sisters, and their teasing helped prepare her for her own vivacious boys yet to come. She is the last of her siblings to die.

She attended and graduated from Brigham Young University. It was during the summer of 1956 while working a summer job at Utah’s Zion National Park, that Ella met the love of her life, who was attending the College of Southern Utah on a football scholarship and working at the same National Park. Marriage soon followed, and Donald and Ella Rae were off and running. They didn’t foresee at that time that they would be together in this life for 68 years, but they did it, and they created many wonderful memories and much love and lineage along the way.

Donald was a career Air Force pilot resulting in some stress along the way, including seventeen home moves by the time the boys were in high school. He was away on missions much of the time, including two honorable tours in the Vietnam War. Ella Rae held things together with the boys and made loving homes with each move, welcoming Don home at each return.

Ella was a very talented artist and taught art for years in various school systems. After leaving behind the Norther Virginia traffic and Donald’s assignments at the Pentagon, Ella and Don retired to St. Simons in 1988. There she pursued her artistic talents more intently and created many portraits of homes and historical architecture located on ‘The Island’ and beyond. She completed her last piece of visual art mere weeks before she died, and this piece now hangs proudly inside Grandy’s Restaurant in Brunswick. She was a lover of cats and puzzles, usually having one of each somewhere nearby.

She was a devoted life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had numerous responsibilities in the church over the years. Working with the Church youth was her favorite. Many wonderful friends in the Church helped sustain her along the way, and this was reciprocated with love.

The Keeney family thanks all of Ella Rae’s friends who were so supportive during her declining health.

They all look forward to seeing her again the life to come. The family also thanks the devoted nurses and aids at Hospice of the Golden Isles for their tender care to the end.

A family graveside service will be held at a National Cemetery in the imminent future. Arrangements are under the direction of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.