Florence Maybery (I34073)
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Personal Facts and Details
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| Birth | 24 October 1878 Swansea, Wales, u. K. |
| Marriage | 29 December 1906 (Age 28) James Franklin Keeler - [View Family (F16243)]
600 Grove Ave., Johnstown, Pa. |
| Death | 6 March 1950 (Age 71) 5216 Columbia Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Universal Identifier | C0E606F805300549B0F79BF8882EEFBFC577 |
| Obituray | 5216 Columbia Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Last Change | 27 June 2006 - 10:55:05 |
Notes
 Note |
Since Grandma Keeler died when Sandy and John, the two youngest Curtis grandchildren, were quite small, the memories of her are fewer. She had very pretty white hair and Sandy's recollection was of Grandma mostly in bed. John and Sandy liked to sing Sunday School choruses, and Grandma would often request them to sing for her when visiting. She always said her favorite was "Heavenly Sunshine". THE GREAT JOHNSTOWN, PA. FLOOD OF 1889... FLORENCE MAYBERY. Her daughter, Catherine Keeler Curtis writes "On October 24, 1879 a baby daughter was born to Edward Maybery and Martha Jones Maybery, whom they named Florence, (She became my mother later on, after almost three years of marriage to my father, James Franklin Keeler.) Mother was born in Swansea, Wales, the fourth child of my grandparents. While Mother was still a baby, the family came to the United States. They first lived in Lewistown, Pa. for a few years, but perhaps a year or two before the Johnstown flood, they had moved to that city. Grandfather worked for Lorain Steel, I think. My memory of my mother telling about the day of the flood is as follows: Since it was a holiday, the family had a family picnic, and returned home. There had been heard again, as in times past, the fear of the dam on the Conamaugh River giving out. (This was an earthen dam on the river above the city, built for the benefit of men who had built a sportsman's club and desired a lake for their pleasure.) Like in the story of Peter and the Wolf, the fears of some had been expressed so often, with nothing happening, that there seemed to be little concern. Because there had been very heavy rains, just preceding the holiday, the earth at the dam had been weakened. Late in the afternoon there were people down by the river, noting that it was rising. Although there were some who feared the worst had happened, many did not seem disturbed by fears expressed, with the result of a devastatingly large loss of life. Many homes and people were washed away. By late afternoon my grandfather had the family gathered in the house. At that time the family home was not too far from the river, although they never had thought there was danger. However, on that afternoon the river was anything but normal. Grandfather decided they should go up the second floor, in cast the water got into the house. Before the night was over they had to move to the third floor and Mother said she had been held steady on a bed until toward morning. While spending those terrible hours during the night, they felt the house move. Sometime the next day the water had receded sufficiently for them to come out of a second story window on the rubble. It was discovered that the house was off the foundation, and had to be demolished. For the next weeks, I'm not sure how long, the family was scattered, being cared for by different people whose homes had not been effected by the flood. Mother said those who gave her shelter didn't seem too kindly, (Grandfather made arrangements as soon as possible to gather the family together. Following the flood they settled in Moxham, in a home which remains in my memory. Before the old house was demolished, my grandparents had gone back to see if anything could be salvaged. The only things they could save were three small chairs with carved backs and caned or velvet covered seats, and a very large family Bible, which my grandparents had brought from Swansea, where they had been married. Since my mother's sister Beatrice had died before Mother was married, and my Uncle Ed preferred that Dad and Mother be given the "flood chairs", as we called them, I grew up with them in our home. Dad lovingly kept them reinforced and later recovered the seats. After Mother died, Dad gave each of us three children a chair. The one we had until breaking up our home to come to Florida is now being cared for by Dick and Sandy. The family Bible is also with them." Like her husband, music was always an important part of Florence's life. She and Frank sometimes sang duets in church. For many years, she taught Sunday school in the beginner's department. Like many people in the 60s, Florence developed high blood pressure. In those days there were no drugs to treat it. People mostly kept a strict, no-sodium diet which was not effective. Consequently, she had a stroke and died several months later. Obiturary Reads - MRS.. FRANK KEELER DIED IN ALDAN AFTER 3 MONTH ILLNESS. Mrs.. Florence Mayberry Keeler, of 56 Albert Ave., Aldan, Pa. died March 6, 1950 at her home after an illness of more than three months. She had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage November 27, 1949. Born in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, she came to this country with her parents as a baby, and had lived many years in Philadelphia before moving to Aldan three years ago. She was a member of Aldan Union Church. Surviving are her husband, J. Frank Keeler, retired secretary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Y.M.C.A.; a son, Edward M. of Ticonderoga, New York; two daughters, Mrs.. Clifford A. Curtis of Waltham, Mass., and Miss Martha C. Keeler of Aldan; and five grandchildren. Service was Saturday from the Chapel of H. Guy Boohar, 314 South 52nd St., Philadelphia, and burial was in Westminister Cemetery |
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Family with Parents - [View Family (F16316)] |
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Family with James Franklin Keeler - [View Family (F16243)] |
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