Obituary of Susan K. Keithley

Susan Keithley entered eternal life on April 20, 2021.Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and longtime HEB educator, Susan was born to Frank and Edith Buehne in Dodge City, Kansas, on April 29, 1945.On a blind date she met her soulmate and love of her life, Tyrone (Ty) Keithley. Married on July 2, 1966, they had three children and almost 54 wonderful years together. She graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1969 and a Master of Education with a concentration in Educational Psychology in 1983. In 1986 Susan, Ty and family moved to Bedford where she was employed by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. She taught for many years and went on to get her diagnostician certification at Texas Woman’s University. “Mrs. Keithley” genuinely loved her students and continued to hear from former students decades later, thanking her for being an outstanding and supportive educator. After her official retirement, she continued working as a contract employee for some time.Susan especially had an appreciation of nature and a love of travel, which she cultivated in her children. Many favorite summers were spent with family during the wheat harvest at her father’s farm in Dodge City. She enjoyed exploring different beaches with family and friends, creating many memories collecting shells, finding various treasures, and other adventures. Deeply rooted in her Catholic faith, Susan also traveled extensively and made numerous religious pilgrimages. Susan’s indomitable spirit imbued her family and all who knew her with a legacy of faith in God and love of family. Susan enjoyed gardening – nearly every plant had a story handed down through generations, such as the purple iris now in bloom that were transplanted from her mother’s garden in Wichita. She and Ty had beautiful vegetable gardens and family and friends enjoyed many dinners that included their vibrant bounty. Susan loved animals, especially her little white Westie, Dirty Hairy.She was preceded in death by her husband in May 2020, her mother Edith Frances Buehne, née Frangenberg, father Frank H Buehne, and her brother, Hal Buehne She is survived by her children, Anne-Marie Keithley, Natalie Keithley, and Mark Keithley, granddaughter, Katherine Keithley; sister, Konnie Williams and husband Larry; brother, Greg Buehne and wife Connie; and several nieces and nephews who will remember her dearly.The family extends a special “thank you” to the Texas Health HEB staff for their compassionate and dedicated care of our mother and grandmother.