Betty M Keefer

Betty was born on March 14, 1930 in Lykens Township, Dauphine County, Pennsylvania to Homer William and Mary Amanda Lebo. Betty married her true love Carl Byerly in 1948 and they moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1957 with 5 young children in tow. Betty tragically lost her first husband in 1961 six weeks after giving birth to her 6th child. Over time Betty had 3 more children from her husband Charles Hoffman. More recently she had been happily married to Donal Keefer, who passed in March 2005, and counted his two children as her own. She faithfully attended Friendship Baptist Church for the last 60 years. Betty’s work history outside the home includes secretarial duties for Kelly Temp Services, gift wrapping for Maas Brothers and light housework for the elderly at Jefferson Center. Betty had a heart for service and besides raising children she actively served in her church teaching Girls in Action and later working in the Clothes Closet.

Betty was preceded in death by her son, William A. Byerly in 2003 and daughter Germaine (Keefer) Bahlke in 2016. She is survived by her brother Charles (Mary) Lebo of Dalmatia, PA; daughters Sandra L. Smith of Las Vegas, NV and Mary R. Hoffman of Bradenton; sons Carl J. (Pam) Byerly, Terry L. (Yvonne) Byerly and Charles F. Hoffman of Sarasota, FL; Robert C. Byerly and David C. (Kathy) Byerly of Theodore, AL; Daniel J. (Stacy) Hoffman of Newnan, GA, and Ron (Rosemary) Keefer of Eau Claire, WI; 13 grandkids, 18 great grandkids and 2 great-great grandkids.

A celebration of life service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 27th at Friendship Baptist Church, 5700 Palmer Blvd. Sarasota, Florida. A private family burial will take place at Palms Memorial Park in Sarasota. Memorial contributions can be made to Tidewell Hospice Inc. at 5955 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34238-9989 or Friendship Baptist Church 5700 Palmer Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34232 in honor of Betty.