Grace E. (Barrett) Bayer Keeney

Grace E. Keeney, 99, of South Richard Street, Bedford, formerly of North Fort Myers, FL and Spring Grove, PA, died November 28, 2016 at her residence. She was born on July 15, 1917 in Snake Spring Township on the Sleighter Farm and grew up on a farm in Woodbury, a daughter of the late William E and Mary E (Eshelman) Barrett. On Dec 11, 1939, in Loysburg at the St John’s Reformed Church Parsonage, she married John W Bayer, Sr., who preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 1970.  On Nov. 23, 1985, in York at the New Fairview Church of the Brethren, she married Speed E Keeney, Sr., who preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1993. She is survived by the following children: Susan (Bayer) Barton wife of Bill, Ruth (Bayer) Karns of Bedford, Daniel Bayer of North Fort Myers, FL and daughter-in-law Vicki (Riley) Bayer of Woodbridge, VA; step children: Speed Keeney Jr, Betty (Jim) Ilyes, Glenn (Brenda) Keeney of York, Robert (Carol) Keeney of Kansas, Richard (Muriel) Keeney and Donna (Dan) Binner of CA along with stepdaughter-in-law Georgia Keeney of Quarryville; fourteen great grandchildren, 1 step great grandchild and twelve great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, John Bayer Jr, a stepson, Gene Keeney and two great grandchildren. Grace was a graduate of Woodbury High School and was a retired cook of Tropical Palms Restaurant, North Fort Myers, FL, she formerly was operator of the Surf Room in Everett, a cook at The Washington Coffee Shop, Bedford, operator of Little Jack’s Restaurant in Loysburg and school cook for Replogle and NBC schools. She also worked at Steele’s General Store in Loysburg and a very short time at the Martinsburg Shoe Factory.  She was a former member of the Loysburg St. John’s Reformed Church Lady’s Guild, a former member of the Bedford Lioness Club and was a member of St John’s United Church of Christ in Bedford.  She was a matriarch of her family and loved the visits from her grand children and great grandchildren and liked to work on her word-find puzzle books. She also loved spending her winters in North Fort Myers, Florida until her health would not permit it.  She was a great baker and was well known for her delicious cinnamon rolls. The family would like to thank caregivers especially, granddaughter Pam, Shania, Loriena, Tammy, Ann and the Grane Hospice Unit for their loving and compassionate care that Grace received during her illness. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Martinsburg. Friends will be received on Friday, from 4 to 8 pm and on Saturday 10-11 am at St John’s Reformed Church in Loysburg.   The funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday with Pastor Brady Plummer officiating.  Memorial contributions can be made to: St. John’s United Church of Christ, 144 West John Street, Bedford, PA 15522 or to Grane Hospice Care, 106 Zee Plaza, North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Arrangements by the S. Gerald Weaver Funeral Home; Woodbury.

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