KEIFER, Elaine V. 91, was born on November 19, 1927 in Akron, Ohio to Dorthea & Gomer Roberts. Her dad was a Fireman & Fire Inspector for Akron Fire Department of which she was so proud of him. Her mom was a Bookkeeper & Head cashier for the A& P. She is an only child and is fiercely proud of her Welsh and German heritage.
Her dad raised her as an avid outdoors woman teaching her to shoot, hunt, fish & camp (which she loved!). Her mom taught her to make delicious meals & to sew and dance. Elaine went to East High School and started working for A& P when she was 16 years old where she eventually became head bookkeeper. She met and married James B. Ward SR (Divorced) and gave birth to her only child James B. Ward Jr.
While working for A & P mom met the love of her life (who also worked for A&P!), James L. Keifer and they married on February 2, 1952. Together they shared many years of love & laughter until Alzheimer's stole Jim away from her. Jim passed away on January 1, 2019 just 1 month & 1 day shy of 60 years of marriage. The love they shared transcends time.
In 1963 they decided to leave Akron, Ohio and moved to Largo, Florida where they built their home. They were lifelong members of Largo Elks Lodge # 2159.
Elaine was a wife, mother, grandma, great grandma, aunt, cousin and friend .These were all the names she was known by. If you were lucky enough to call her any of these you were truly blessed. She was a strong and guiding light for her family. An angel that walked among us with a quick smile and a hug. She would come sit at the table let's have some comfort food and laughter. She would listen, offer sage advice or a scolding when needed. You always knew where you stood with her. She loved her family and was proud of us all.
Mom was a very versatile & interesting person. Some of her favorite things to do were crossword puzzles, cooking, baking (people loved her rum balls, peanut butter fudge & Amish beans!) crochet and knitting. She loved classical music and what she called “modern" music meaning, Andrea Bocelli and Kenny G, to name just a few! Mom also loved wolves, chickens (her walls can attest to this LOL!) and drinking a glass of Merlot wine with great company. She loved dogs, especially her Duke and Misty. She played the accordion (she never liked being the family entertainment as a child and young adult) but she loved to play and for herself. She loved roses gardening and her favorite color was purple.
The loving family she leaves behind are her son and daughter in law, James and Penny Ward; grandchildren, Erica and Wayne Gibson, Sasha and Keith Collins, Robert Ward, Karen Perez, Meghan and Alex Paulik and great grandchildren, Wyatt, Westen and Evaline "Viola" Gibson, Tiani, Talan ,Tayah, Maddux, Tymbree, Marric Urijah and Kaidynn Collins, Cameron Ward, Allison Miller, Delainey Perez and Silas Ward and cousin, Beverly and Bernie Scott.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.
