Celia KEELING

September 6, 1931 - May 28, 2025

Celia entered this world born on a kitchen table on September 6th, 1931, in Victor Pointe, Oregon. She entered into rest at home in Deer Park, surrounded by the ones who loved her and holding the hands of the people who meant the most to her. Celia was the oldest of three girls and was raised in Portland by her mother and stepfather. She had numerous cousins on the Keeling side and growing up spent many summers with these cousins forming lifetime friendships and many funny stories!

Celia graduated high school and enrolled in Pacific Business College. This is where she met Charles Miller, and they married in 1952. Charles and Celia raised four sons together while Charles was obtaining his doctorate and Celia was raising the boys. Celia continued her education while managing the crazy hectic Miller household. They moved from college to college for Charles work until they landed in Cheney, WA, in 1969. He accepted a position with EWU as a Professor of Education. Celia and Charles traveled extensively with the boys on breaks from school.

Just a few of the memorable trips was a trip down the Yukon River in a Flat Bottom Skow they built themselves. From London to Thailand, they traveled across the globe. Every break was spent traveling creating lasting memories. Ben said one thing he remembered about growing up was they were raised with manners and education was always primary.

Celia obtained her master's degree for Child Psychology in the late 1980's. She then took a position with the Lewis County School District as a Child Psychologist and moved to Chehalis, WA. Charles & Celia divorced not long after in 1990. Celia loved her job as a child psychologist and her newfound freedom. It wasn't long until she met Gordon Grose. They married and spent many happy years together in her home in Chehalis. Celia had retired when she learned she was expecting her first grandchild. She promptly put her house on the market and moved back to Spokane. Celia and Gordon would divorce a few years later. If there is one thing Celia would want to be remembered for it would be that she was the most "Quintessential" Grandma in every sense possible. Celia was gifted two grandchildren, and they were everything to her. They had their own room, beds, food or whatever they wanted! As she did wait 70 years to become a grandma. And going too Grandma's was a weekly event. Grandma meant everything to them, and they meant the world to her. She loved them so much she was willing to move to Alaska just to be with them...thankfully that didn't work out. Celia purchased a home in the Deer Park golf course community in 2007 and started making new friends right away. And of course, the grandkids were only a couple of miles away. Family was everything to Celia. She loved family dinners and loved setting the table with China, crystal and linen napkins.

She was a member of the Red Hat Society, and she loved to go dancing 2-3 times a week. She would take swim classes at the YMCA and watched her grandkids weekly. It was during one of her weekly outings for dance when she met Don Halliday. Don and Celia spent over 15 years together, spending time between her home in Deer Park and his on the South Hill. They loved to take cruises together until Don's health deteriorated and he could no longer travel. Celia lived alone in her house up until she got sick and was still driving at 93, independence was 2nd nature to her. To describe a woman that meant so much to so many people, but I was fortunate to call my mother-in-law is difficult. I would say she was fiercely independent, strong, but a caring woman who can never be replaced.

Until we meet again, love you Grandma.

Celia is preceded in death by her father, Terry Keeling; stepfather, Rudy Walkter; mother, Marjorie Avery; sisters, Phylis and Wilma; son, Daniel Miller; and son, Thomas Miller. She is survived by her longtime partner, Don Halliday; son: Benjamin (Susanne) Miller; son, Timothy (Cherie) Miller; grandchildren, Isabella Miller/Alex Hawley, Philip Miller/Brianna Crist. Also, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorial scheduled for August 23rd at the Old Creamery Event center in Deer Park at 2pm.