Joan Bulley Keever

Joan Bulley Keever

Joan Bulley Keever passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 29th, 2018 at the age of 88 She was born on February 27, 1930 in Evanston, Illinois to Allan E Bulley, Sr & Lucille Kile Bulley of Kenilworth, Illinois Joan attended the Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth, IL, New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL & Mills College in Oakland, CA, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree

She married H Weller "Jake" Keever on September 20th 1958 and lived in Manhattan before moving to New Canaan, Connecticut, where she lived since 1960 She immediately joined the New Canaan Sewing Group where she donated her time and efforts for fifty-eight years She was Chair of the New Canaan Country School's Frogtown Fair in 1976 and also enjoyed working at their annual Clothesline Sales

She loved teaching swimming and synchronized swimming at the New Canaan YMCA She also took pride in teaching English as a second language starting in college and continuing that role throughout her life She was a member of the St Mark's Episcopal Church of New Canaan during all of her years in town

Her many memberships in clubs included the Junior League of Evanston, IL & New York, NY, the Women's Westchester-Fairfield Golf Association & the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT A natural athlete, she became an accomplished golfer in competition Her favorite tournament at Woodway was the Partner's Best Ball where she paired with her "Horse" Sis Madigan Healey in spirited play with her group of friends She also served on the admissions committee and was a driving force in establishing a scholarship fund for the club's employees

Joan adored many things in life, especially her family, their traditions as well as her creativity with needlepoint & knitting These elements were most evident with her love of the Christmas season when all of her handiwork would be displayed throughout the house The Christmas dinner scavenger hunts during dessert were a continuation of her mother-in-law's time, but enhanced with the special wit and skill that only she could bring Heaven help the person who received the clue "O Tannenbaum" as over fifty types of real and needlepointed Christmas trees decorated the house She won awards for her needlepointed king bed sized headboard depicting a lovely garden as well as for her culinary skills with her legendary cheesecake

She also had a deep love of her pets starting in her childhood with her cat, Herman and her, dog Boots She nurtured and cared for Siamese cats, Brandy & Benedictine, Pernod & Cointreau, Crème de Cacao & Sambuca, Lillet & Pimm Dogs included English Springer Spaniel, Sam & Golden Retriever, Mandrake's Champagne Charlie

Joan will be greatly missed by her son, James Weller Keever & his wife Doreen of Darien, CT; her daughter, Kile E Keever of New Canaan, CT; her two grandchildren: James Weller Keever, Jr & Katherine Grace Keever and by her brother, Allan E Bulley, Jr of Kenilworth, IL

A memorial service will be held at St Mark's Episcopal Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan on Saturday, August 4th at 11:00am

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Mark's Church Parish, 111 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840; New Canaan Artisans, PO Box 215, New Canaan, CT 06840 or to the Woodway Scholarship Fund, 540 Hoyt Street, Darien, CT 06820