By Staff
Dorothy V. Keys, a truly remarkable woman, was born May 27, 1929 in Belhaven, NC to Evans Spencer Sr. and Martha Ann (nee Lovick) Spencer. She lived most of her life in the cities of Belhaven and Washington, N.C. A resident at Columbus Colony Elderly Care in Westerville, OH, a one of its kind nursing facility caring for those who are deaf and/or blind, she went to that special place Jesus prepared for her on March 10, 2007. She was married to Christopher C. Keys in 1956 until his death in 1966.
She was highly intelligent and a mostly self educated Christian woman, a graduate of the School for the Deaf in Raleigh, NC. Born deaf, she knew she would eventually become blind. She made no excuses or apologies for her handicap because she felt that God had richly blessed her. She was skilled at crafts, having done much of it after becoming blind. She received numerous commendations from the state of North Carolina and civic organizations for her work as a volunteer and social activities participant with deaf and/or blind groups at seminars, workshops and retreats. She lived alone, in an apartment electronically equipped to accommodate her, until she suffered a stroke in September 2006, which made it necessary for her to relocate to Ohio to be with relatives.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Maxine Ebron, Marybelle Dalton, Doris B. Bellamy, Darcelean Lamb and brother, Sampson R. Gibbs. She is survived by brothers, Evans (Joann) Spencer, Jr. of Zanesville, Ohio, and Samuel (Jean) Spencer of Parsippany, N.J. and several nieces and nephews and other relatives. She also leaves a host of friends, especially those at the Blind Center in Washington, N.C. She enjoyed meeting and communicating with new people. She loved to love and was loved by all who knew her.
Calling hours 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sat., April 14, 2007, at Burrell Funeral Services, 414 LaSalle St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701. To sign online,Burrellfuneralservices.com.
Service will be at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Elder Tyron C. Spencer. Cremation will take place.
Paid Obituary