Simone I. Keir

SIMONE I. KEIR May 4, 1927 ~ October 23, 2011 Simone I. Keir was born on May 4, 1927, the second of what was to be a family of six (6) children, growing up in Casablanca, Morocco. Her parents were Moise and Rebekah Sebban. They were of French and Algerian ancestry, with a strong Sephardic heritage. Simone's father was a veteran of World War I who later became a civilian employee of the French colonial government in Casablanca for many years. Simone's parents raised their large family during the difficult war years when life for the Moroccan Jewish community was insecure at best. Her brothers and sister, Marcel, Armand, Lucien, and Monique immigrated to France, along with their parents, when Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956. By then, Simone and her sister, Yvette, had already immigrated to the United States. Simone met George Phillips in 1942, when he was a United States Naval Officer stationed in Casablanca. Marcel, Simone's older brother, who had been hired by the US military to act as an interpreter, introduced them and soon thereafter George became a fixture around the Sebban household. Two years later, in 1944, they were married while George was still stationed in Casablanca. By 1947, the couple set off for the United States and ultimately settled in San Diego, California, where Simone's son, Ralph, was born in 1948. The couple's son, Daniel, was also born there in 1953. In 1962, Simone, George, and their sons moved to Redlands where George began a long relationship with Hatfield Buick and Simone took a position as a French Teacher for all grades at Valley Preparatory School. Simone's career at Valley Prep lasted for more than twenty years where she enthusiastically and proudly taught the French language and culture to hundreds of future Inland Empire francophiles. Simone's beloved George passed away suddenly in 1978, but good fortune smiled upon her once again in 1980 when she met Loyal Keir. Loyal was an attorney for the County of Riverside for many years and long time member of Temple Beth El, in Riverside. Simone was introduced to Loyal by Hillel Kohn, then Rabbi of Congregation Emanu El, in San Bernardino, where Simone had worshipped for decades. Simone married Loyal later in 1980 and moved to Riverside where they enjoyed, as Loyal was fond of saying "the best years" of his life. Loyal passed away in 1992 and Simone continued living in Riverside, enjoying her frequent walks along beautiful Victoria Avenue, for more than thirty years. Simone passed away after a short illness on October 23. She is survived by her sons, Ralph, and Dan; daughters-in-law, Debbie and Rebekah; six grandchildren, Nathan, Melissa, Aliyah, Jordan, Briana, and Ashley Simone; three great-grandchildren, Kaylin, Ethan, and Eli. Services will be held at Temple Beth El, 2675 Central Avenue, Riverside on Thursday, October 27 at 10:30 a.m. To honor her memory, the family requests donations be sent directly to the Jewish charity of your choice , in lieu of flowers. Arrangements under the direction of Acheson & Graham Mortuary (951) 688-1221