Barbara Ann Keyes

    Barbara Anne Keyes, of Rathdrum, Idaho, died of COPD on March 27, 2024 at Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho at the age of 94.

    Barbara Anne Keys, also known as Babs, was born to Mary Priscilla Noll, Keys and Walter Scott Keys, Jr. on February 18, 1930 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, her mother’s hometown. Both of her parents were from affluent families. The Keys Family was from Hastings-On-Hudson, New York. Mom lived in the Keys Mansion which was located on Broadway Avenue near Hastings Village.

    When Mom was very young, the family of four, which includes her older brother, Walter Scott Keys III, moved to California where her father was manager of a gas station that his father bought for him. He did well, so he soon became an executive for Signal Oil Co. That began the years of constant moving. My Uncle “Scott” speaks of going to 13 different schools, but both Scott and Babs loved the Seattle area the best. They lived in four different locations in the area either on the water or near it. Mom’s father loved the water and her mother loved fishing, so her life was spent doing both. Mom’s swimming was well known and started as an infant in diapers. In fact, her picture was on the front page of the newspaper as “The Youngest Member of the Polar Bear Club” at 5 years old. That love to swim never left her heart.

    Memorable family trips include the drive to both World Fairs. One was in New York and Treasure Island was in San Francisco Bay. The trip to New York was very special because they stayed at the family mansion in Hastings-on-Hudson. Another family favorite place to visit was Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula. 

    Of course, after 94 years, there are numerous tales to be told. When she was just a young child, her family was well known on both Wall Street and Broadway. You see, her grandpa managed a theater, so her aunts danced in the theater and some became actresses and other family members also became actors. They were also known for betting on horses and bootlegging, to name a few.

    Babs’ life changed dramatically when she married my dad, Floyd Melvin Keyes in August 28,1949. Yes, she only changed her name by adding another “E” to Keys. In the words of her brother Walter “Scott”: “I met Melvin Keyes at Woodrow Wilson (High School), probably because our names were so similar. I later introduced him to Barbara and am proud to say they became lifelong partners.” Soon after marriage, she was contacted by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Castro Valley, California, where she became an avid student of the Bible. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1960. Dad followed suit a few years later. Her new love for Jehovah and His written word were now her life. She had numerous bible students and became a force to be reckoned with as far as defending the defining Jehovah’s will and purpose for the earth. She especially loved sharing the many prophecies and their fulfillments from the distant past, the recent past, what we are seeing now, and what we will see in the future—the near future.

    Her surviving family members are:  Son, Bradley Allen Keyes; daughter, Rhonda Marie Gallegos; grandchildren, Tina Carney, Darren Gallegos, Jesse Gallegos, Toby Gallegos, Levi Gallegos; great grandchildren, James Carney, Sean Carney, Gianna Gallegos, Trey Gallegos, Maverick Gallegos, Bronx Gallegos, Aaron Gallegos and Charli Gallegos. She has a large group of Keys relatives (with only 1 “E”) including five nieces, Gail, Terri, Marcia, Anita and Sandy. They have numerous children and grandchildren.

    She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, Floyd Melvin Keyes. Also, her daughters Cynthia Keyes and an infant named Rebecca Keyes. Her parents and brother, Scott Keys, also preceded her in death.

    Barbara is peacefully waiting for the time very soon when Jehovah will call for her to awaken from sleep in the resurrection. One of her favorite scriptures was Isaiah 65:17,18. But please read the whole chapter and see what Jehovah God promises. She loved to share that hope