Geraldean Keohan

1933 - 2024

Geraldean Keohan

February 18, 1933 - August 7, 2024

Ballwin, Missouri - Keohan, Geraldean (nee Ritchie), passed away, Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Born February 18, 1933 to Marvin and Clara Ritchie in Davenport, Oklahoma. In 1934, her parents moved to Kuna, Idaho where she was raised in the Treasure Valley. She graduated from Kuna High School in 1950, and then entered the Collage of Idaho, but became restless and stayed only one semester. In 1953, she married Thomas Keohan and had five children - Thomas G., Gerilynn, Craig, Eugene, and Paul. Her children were the stars in her life and her love for them was unlimited. Added to that blessing was 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

In 1970, after working several years in the west, the Keohan family moved to Kimberling Village in Missouri, a small retirement village that sat on the banks of Table Rock Lake. With over 999 miles of shoreline outside their front door, and with a population under 500 people (including every man, woman, child, cat, and dog), the excitement began.

Almost immediately, Tom and Gerry were approached by other couples who requested their assistance in creating a petition to gather support to introduce an initiative on the fall ballot to change the small retirement village of Kimberling into a city. The initiative passed and Kimberling officially became a city in 1973. It was quite a job for such a small population, but with the population came enormous talent. Today, the city has expanded its limits way beyond its humble beginnings and is now home to over 2,400 people, 750 families, and one of the most iconic bridges in Missouri.

After arriving in Kimberling, Gerry started working as an accountant for the R & K Sales Corp. In 1979, Gerry became the general manager of their large supermarket, just a few blocks from their family home. Gerry was proud of the fact that she was one of very few women who held that title and demonstrated that she was just as bright, competent, and savvy as the men that ran the other stores. In that time, a woman in that vocation, being responsible for twenty employees and $3 million in gross sales was unheard of (as it was a man's world).

Gerry's success didn't stop at the supermarket. A public vote placed her on Board of the Missouri Retailers Association, the first woman to serve on the Board. She was a member of the Women's Professional Business Association and served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Table Rock Art Association.

As a child, she knew she was an artist, so after she retired in 1989, she studied fine arts. In a few years, she was winning awards for her art in professional categories, and it was a dream come true for her.

In her late years, she often said, "It was a great journey and I would take it again if I had the opportunity." She was a people-lover and her friends were always close to her heart.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.