Nell C. Keim

Ellen Marie (Nell) Caver Keim, 94, passed away from natural causes at Mercy McMahon Terrace in Sacramento, Friday, December 2, 2016. Nell was born January 7, 1922, in Augusta, GA. to Henry and Mary (Lyons) Caver. She attended St. Mary’s On the Hill elementary school and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1939. She received a scholarship to Rosemont College in Philadelphia, graduating in 1943 with an English degree and teaching certificate. She returned to Augusta to teach at Davidson School. In 1946 Nell met Robert (Bob) Raymond Keim at the Master’s Golf Tournament while he was in medical school. They were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church December 29, 1948. Their first child, Robert, was born in 1949 in San Antonio, TX while Bob was doing his internship at Ft. Sam Houston.

Their second, Liz, was born in San Francisco in 1952. Their third, Anne, was born in San Antonio in 1953 when Bob was reassigned to Ft. Sam Houston. Their fourth, David, and Cathy, their fifth, were both born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. in 1955 and 1956. Their sixth, Terry, was born at West Point, NY in 1958 while Bob was the psychiatrist at the Academy.

In 1961 Bob was assigned to Frankfurt, Germany. Nell took the children to live in Augusta until they were able to join Bob overseas after the Berlin Crisis. Nell was president of the Sodality in Frankfurt. She went to Rome with a group that had a semi-private audience with Pope John the 23rd.

Bob served as Chief of Psychiatry from 1965 until 1971 at the Presidio of San Francisco. Nell returned to teaching, first at Mission Delores Academy and then Notre Dame. She joined the Sodality led by nuns at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and Stuart Hall where her children attended school. On the Presidio she met with GI’s returning from Vietnam who didn’t have diplomas and prepared them for taking the GED.

Bob retired from the Army in 1971 and became Chief of Psychiatry at Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento. In 1972 Nell joined the Legion of Mary, which met at St. Ignatius Church. She was president of the Comitium until December 2005, but continued as president for the Legion’s Curia. Nell and a circle of friends met for rosary every afternoon for more than 30 years.

Bob retired from Kaiser in 1986 and they travelled more frequently, while continuing volunteer work. After Bob died Nell moved to Selby Ranch where she was known for her daily prayer walks. She attended mass at Mercy McMahon Terrace for years before moving there December of 2012. She was not only active in the Catholic Church, but politically active, including her pro-life work. Fellow Mercy McMahon resident, Bishop Francis A. Quinn, teases that it was Nell who really ran the diocese.

Nell received the Sacraments of last rites on December 1st from Bishop Quinn.

Nell is survived by her children, Robert (Nancy) of Port Townsend, WA, Liz (Wade) of San Francisco, Anne of Emeryville, David of Fremont, Cathy (Jim) of Newcastle and Terry (Skip) of Hines, OR, and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her brothers Hank and Bill; and her sister, Mary.

Thank you, Mercy McMahon residents and staff, for providing Nell a home filled with love, life and laughter. We are grateful to you and to Nell’s caregivers at Kaiser Permanente for taking such wonderful care of her.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, 5401 Folsom Blvd with a Rosary at 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 1040 39th Street, Saturday, December 10, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception at Mercy McMahon Terrace. Interment will be at 1:45 p.m. at Calvary Catholic Cemetery 7101 Verner Ave., Citrus Heights. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mercy Foundation c/o Mercy McMahon Terrace 3865 J St. Sacramento, CA 95816.

Arrangements under the direction of Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, Sacramento, CA.