Kathleen Theresa "Kathy" Keating

Known fondly as Mom, Grandma Kathy, and Aunt Kathy, Kathleen T. Keating was born in Covina, Calif. on July 9, 1955, to Charles E. Brown, Jr. and Dora Juanita (née Ruiz) Brown, the youngest of their four children. Kathy passed away on January 21, 2025, in Eugene, Ore., surrounded by her three boys -
Matthew, Michael, and Mark - she so lovingly raised.
Her sons were her world, her grandchildren her galaxy.
Kathy graduated from Bishop Amat High School in 1973. She started her family in Covina, commuting to downtown Los Angeles, and finding time to coach soccer, ski, and take her boys on most memorable family vacations to Lake Tahoe, Yellowstone, Big Bear, and June Mountain (just to name a few).
In 1997, Kathy and her youngest children relocated from Southern California to Eugene where she continued to work for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, and later for a local Catholic church. Kathy ultimately retired as an ultrasound technician and certified medical assistant (CMA).
Returning to school late in life, in 2013 Kathy passed national certification boards and earned an associate's degree in Medical Assisting from the Allied Health program at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.
In 2016, she graduated at the top of her class with a second associate's degree from Orange Coast College, this time in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
From working for the City of Los Angeles to Honeywell Int'l Corp. to the J.G. Boswell Co. to a local school district to Arthur Andersen, LLP to non-profits to hospitals to memory care facilities, Kathy made an impact on all around her. She was an exceptional HR/office manager, business manager, executive assistant, soccer coach, team mom, room mom, teacher's assistant, ultrasound technician, and CMA in which she helped the most vulnerable of healthcare patients.
In 2023, in recognition and appreciation of her commitment to excellence, Kathy was awarded CMA (AAMA) Medical Assistant of the Year from the Oregon Society of Medical Assistants.
Kathy is survived by her three sons: Matthew (Becca) of Eugene, Ore., Michael (Anna) of La Verne, Calif., and Mark (Lauren) of Fortville, Ind.; seven grandchildren: Brendon, Patrick, Caitlin, Emily, Audrey, Isabella, and Jordan; her three siblings: Charles D. Brown (Lucy) of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Patricia Brown of Covina, Calif., and Linda Phillips (David) of Eugene, Ore.; and her five nephews: Chris, Scott, Brian, Kevin, Chaz and their families.
In addition to loving her family and friends so deeply, Kathy had a fierce appreciation for nature - wolves and eagles in particular. Please consider a contribution in her honor to Oregon Wild, Defenders of Wildlife, Yellowstone Forever, National Parks Conservation Association, and Nature Conservancy.
Services for Kathy Keating will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Eugene, Ore.