Anna Keithly

Anna Bounita Keithly 1910 ~ 2012 Anna Bounita "Bea" Keithly, 101, died March 14, 2012, at a Boise Hospital, having lived in Boise for many years. She enjoyed good health all her life. Bea was born September 29, 1910, in Midvale, Idaho, the third daughter of John Thomas Williamson and Ida Belle Smith, early day immigrants to Idaho from Illinois. She attended schools in Midvale and graduated high school in Mountain Home. She then attended Albion Normal School near Mountain Home earning a teaching certificate. Returning to Midvale, she taught one year in a one-room school at Hog Creek, then occasionally did substitute teaching at Midvale in later years. She married Thomas Joel Keithly January 20, 1931, whose family had established a hardware and farm equipment business in early-day Midvale. Tom served three terms in the Idaho State Legislature representing Washington County. He preceded Bea in death in 1973. Tom and Bea had three children. They are survived by Roger Thomas Keithly (Kay) of Boise and Gilbert Joel Keithly of Spokane, Washington. A daughter, Kathryn Anne, was Bea's pride and joy and the light of her life. She died in 1985. Other survivors are five grandchildren, Teri Wiegman (Chuck), Lisa Morgan (Mark), Tom Keithly (Niobe), Jennifer Mendiola (Jeff), Melissa Gilbert (William Jr.), and numerous great-grandchildren, all of Seattle and Boise. Bea enjoyed sewing, playing bridge and reading. Someone once said "she could make almost anything on a sewing machine". Bea was devoted to her family and in her final years kept in close contact with everyone by telephone. She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Boise. Following cremation, her ashes will be buried next to the grave of her husband at Keithly Creek Cemetery near Midvale in a private ceremony. The family wishes to thank Grace Assisted Living in Meridian for the wonderful care given over the past several years.