Barbara Mae Keith

Barbara Mae Keith, 94, of Jerome, Idaho, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025. 

She was born on March 21, 1931, in Oakley, Idaho. She was the beloved daughter of Eva and Hank Thaemert and grew up in the Kimberley area with her parents and older brother, Cleo, on a local farm. After graduating from high school, she worked in the local area until she met and married her lifelong partner, James Keith from Jerome, Idaho.

Barbara and James raised two sons, Steven and Mark, in Jerome, Idaho. Mark and his wife gave them two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They really loved spoiling all those children. Family was a very important part of their lives and they traveled often to visit them.

After they both retired, they started to enjoy the next stage of their lives even more. They spent their summers in their family home in Idaho and then transitioned to Wellton, Arizona, for the winters. They continued this pilgrimage every year for almost 40 years.

Barbara and Jim celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary with Wellton Friends and their sons. On returning to Idaho that summer, she became a full-time caregiver for Jim until his passing. She continued to make her trips to the south each year with her son Mark after he retired.

She started failing and decided that she needed more assistance than her sons could provide. She decided to move into her favorite care facility this summer, located in Jerome, for the full-time care she needed.

Barbara lived a long and fulfilling life marked by great friendships, compassion for others, and deep devotion to all those that she loved. Before her death, a large group of her winter Welton friends all visited her in Jerome, on their way south for the winter, which really helped boost her spirits and proved just how much she was loved.

She asked that there only be a small family celebration of life with no formal service. Please remember her and all the good times that you had with her. Keep her memory alive and in your heart..

Her final wish was to be “Together Forever” with her loving husband, after they had both passed.

Her sons, grandkids, and the whole extended family will miss her and her loving memory will continue on in everyone she had ever met and made friends with. We all love her dearly.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Barbara’s memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.