Anita Florence Carver Keeling, 85 left us on April 9, 2022 with her family by her side in Houston, Texas. Anita was born on October 24, 1936 in Marlow, Oklahoma to Solon and Elvy Carver. The family moved to California for a while and finally made their way to Texas. She graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1954 where she was a classmate of Kenny Rogers.
She went to work with her older sister, Sherry, as a telephone operator at Southwestern Bell. She worked her way up the ranks to become a Switching Technician when she retired in 1987. Her interests included watching TV, especially the Western Channel, family, traveling, embroidery, sewing, word puzzles, and bowling which is how she met her husband, Franklin L. “Scotty” Keeling. The story goes that the first time Scotty laid eyes on her that he said he was going to marry her which he did in 1959. They were married 43 years before his death in 2003.
Anita was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star becoming Worth Matron along with Franklin, a Master Mason, as her Worthy Patron. Her membership lasted for almost 50 years. She also served as Mother Advisor and an Advisory Board member in the International Order of the Rainbow for girls where both of her daughters were members. Anita was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Solon E. Carver, and her sister, Sherry Collins. Anita is survived by her sister, baby Sallie Shepherd, two daughters and their spouses, Anita and James Darby, and Rebecca and Glenn Finka, 6 grandsons, and 5 great-grandchildren. She will be missed.
A visitation for Anita will be held Thursday, April 14, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, Texas 77008. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, April 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, Texas 77008. Committal service will follow at Brookside Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Keeling family.
