Barbara Jean Keyes, trauma nurse

Barbara Jean Keyes, beloved daughter of the late Charles D. Keyes and Beatrice (Pedersen) Keyes of Rhode Island, and sister of the late Carol Keyes of Rhode Island, passed from this life to the next Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018.

Miss Keyes earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Russell Sage College in 1974. She had a 34-year career as a trauma nurse at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, and as a risk manager for the University of Maryland Medical System. In 1992, she earned a master of science degree from The Johns Hopkins University.

In 2008, she moved to Lewes to enjoy the beach and pursue a deeply held commitment to raising dogs for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization. She raised three dogs from puppyhood and glowed with pride as they began their service lives. Miss Keyes was a member of Conley’s United Methodist Church since 2010, where she was fondly known as the “dog lady” because she often brought her young in-training guide dogs to services. 

Miss Keyes led a life devoted to the care of others - family, friends, patients, coworkers and her “critters.” She enriched the lives of all who knew her and will be dearly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m., at Ruck’s Funeral Home in Towson, Md.  A second service will be held Saturday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at her family plot in Rhode Island.

In lieu of flowers, Miss Keyes requested contributions to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, or Conley’s United Methodist Church, 33106 Jolyns Way, Lewes, DE 19958.

Please visit Miss Keyes' Life Memorial Webpage and sign her online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.