Ishbel Keefer Lyle, 85, of Charlotte, died January 10, 2019. Ishbel was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the only child of Dr. Chester S. Keefer and Jean Balfour Keefer. Although she kept her New England sensibilities, she loved the south and considered Charlotte to be her home. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Carl B. Lyle, Jr. and son, Carl Scott Lyle. Ishbel is survived by her daughter, Mei Mei Burr, her son-in-law, Peter Burr (Cincinnati, Ohio) and granddaughters, Emily Burr (Davidson, North Carolina) and Laura Burr (Cincinnati).
Ishbel was a graduate of the Winsor School in Boston, Vassar College, and the Simmons University School of Social Work. As a young woman in the early 1950s, she volunteered at the Grenfell Mission in Newfoundland, Canada. Later, she worked for many years as a clinical social worker in a variety of settings including the Massachusetts General Cardiac Rehab Unit in Boston, Massachusetts, the Children’s Service Bureau in San Antonio, Texas, the UNC Department of Social Work in Chapel Hill, NC and Thompson Children’s Home in Charlotte.
In retirement, she was an avid collector and spent many days scouring flea markets and antique shows for treasures. Ishbel was an active member of the Delholm Service League of the Mint Museum for several years where she pursued her passion for ceramics. Her love of ceramics stemmed from her cherished collection of Chinese porcelains that she inherited from her parents. Her parents lived in China in the 1920s and worked with the Peking Union Medical College in the 1920s. They integrated Chinese art and culture into their home. Ishbel took great pride in the accomplishments of her father, Dr. Chester Keefer. He was known as “the penicillin czar” as he was responsible for the civilian distribution of the new life-saving drug during WWII.
One of Ishbel’s greatest joys was visiting her cottage on the shores of Lake Huron in Canada, a joy she passed on to her children and grandchildren. The lifelong friends she made there became a second family to her. The cottage was originally purchased in the early 1900s by her Canadian grandparents and continues to be at the heart of the family.
Ishbel was known for her warm smile, sense of humor, distinctive voice and the homemade butterscotch candy that she shared at Christmas. She was a loving mother, grandmother and a devoted friend who will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held Friday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. at Southminster, 8919 Park Rd., Charlotte, 28210. A private family burial service will take place at a later date in Boston, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the student scholarship fund at The Winsor School, 103 Pilgrim Rd., Boston, MA 02215 or to the Delholm Service League of the Mint Museum.
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