Dorothy Keaton

Monday, January 18, 2010
Dorothy Keaton

Dorothy Lee Keaton was born on Dec. 23, 1928, in the West Virginia mining town of Hotchkiss.

She was the oldest of 7 children born to Elliot and Ada Birchfield. She attended the local one room school and later attended high school in the nearby town of Sophia.

On June 4, 1946, Dorothy married Clinton Ray Keaton and devoted the rest of her life to being a loving wife and mother.

In 1950, Dorothy moved with her husband to Missouri where the two raised five children. In 1971, they moved to Idaho where Dorothy served with her husband, who pastored a number of Independent Baptist churches throughout the state, including Buhl, Moscow, Mountain Home, Payette, and Glenns Ferry.

Dorothy was a wonderful homemaker and those who knew her soon understood that everything had its place. She enjoyed cooking meals for her family, but you learned quickly that when she said dinner was to be ready by 4:30, you better plan to be there by 4:15.

Dorothy enjoyed gardening and could rescue any plant in need. Her husband would keep a large garden and Dorothy enjoyed canning its bountiful harvest. Everyone looked forward to tasting her green beans.

As a pastor's wife, Dorothy helped her husband in any way she could, but children were her special delight. There was not a Sunday morning that passed when you wouldn't find her at the nursery door to welcome the babies.

Dorothy and Clinton were married for 61 years and spent the last 37 years ministering together in Idaho. They were the best of fishing buddies and also enjoyed camping and hunting together. After her husband's death, Dorothy returned to Buhl to live with her oldest son, David, and his family.

Dorothy is survived by: her siblings, Buddy (Delma) Birchfield, Vera (Gerald) Lovelace, Drema Harper, Bonnie Halsey, Patty Hyatt and Marshall (Cathy) Birchfield; her children, David (Norma) Keaton, Sue (Don) Haugen, Virgil Keaton, Marilyn (Virgil) Vice and Mark (Teri) Keaton; 10 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton, and her infant son, Darrel.

Visitation will be held Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, from 5-6 p.m. at the Bible Baptist Church, 1555 American Legion Blvd., Mountain Home, Idaho, with funeral services following at 6 p.m. Visitation will be held, Friday, Jan. 22, from 6-7 p.m. at the Rose and Quisenberry Peace Chapel, 1901 S. Kanawha St. Beckley, WV, with funeral services to be held Saturday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. at the Rose and Quisenberry Peace Chapel. Interment will follow at the Birchfield Cemetery in Lester, W. Va. Arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls.