Velda Keeton

Velda was the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Engel Steffen. She attended schools in Bloomfield and North Plains, Oregon before graduating from high school in Hillsboro, Oregon. She earned her teaching degree from Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. To put herself through college, she worked as a welder in the shipyards near Monmouth. During this time she met her future husband, Ervin Keeton who was stationed there in the Army. The couple was married on Aug. 5, 1946 in Hillsboro, Texas and made their home there for the next 35 years. Velda taught school until the birth of her first child. Later she returned to work in Hillsboro at Merkel Printing and also for CAUSE, Inc. While in Hillsboro, Velda was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was saved and baptized to the Lord. Following the couple?s move to Alvarado in 1981, she became a member of First Baptist Church there. An active member, she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir in both churches. She also served as a teacher?s aide at Alvarado Elementary South. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Ervin on Feb. 19, 2002; sister, Roberta Teel; brother, Norman Steffen; and son-in-law Michael Burns. Survivors include: 2 children - Carolyn Reese and husband, Ronnie, of Alvarado, and David Keeton and wife, Janice of Hewitt; 2 brothers - Robert Steffen of Gordon, Neb. and Vern Steffen of Alexandria, Minn.; 1 sister, Ardis Krieger of Burke, S.D.; 4 grandchildren - Jeff Burns and wife, Sarah, of Wiley, Jennifer Burns of Denver, CO., and Alison and Adrienne Keeton of Hewitt; 1 great-grandson, Kieran Burns; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the following: First Baptist Church, PO Box 362, Alvarado, TX 76009 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, North Central Texas Chapter, 2105 Luna Rd. - Suite 390, Carrollton, TX 75006 Hospice House, 301 Medpark Circle, Burleson, TX 76028.