Mary Jane Keel

Mary Jane was born on December 22, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Tom and Betty McDonnell. Her family lived in a beautiful home with a bevy of aunts and cousins on Hazelwood Avenue. She was an excellent student, and her enrollment at Duquesne University paid off in two ways in 1966—she earned the first of several degrees and married fellow student Richard Keel. Together they raised two daughters, Michelle and Renee, and a son, John. The young family lived in seven states and Australia before settling down for good in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1984.

Mary Jane went on to earn her master’s degree in nursing in 1986 while raising three teenagers, and in 1998 she became Dr. Keel (which Richard loved to call her) when she completed her EdD degree. Through all her degree programs, she earned straight A’s. She had a long and successful career in many aspects of nursing, moving from the bedside to the classroom to administration. Along the way, she made many lifelong friends.

Mary Jane’s love of reading was legendary—she usually had several books going at once, and reading whole novels in a day was not unusual. She was always up for a game of cards—especially pinochle and 500—or watching the Steelers (or “Stillers” in Pittsburgh-ese).

She was also a welcoming hostess. Over the years, she opened her home to many, from rowdy friends of her kids to shy exchange students. She and Richard hosted many a pool party and barbecue for neighbors and visitors. She lovingly prepared signature dishes like her famous spicy sausage spaghetti, pumpkin roll, shrimp creole and bitochki (it’s delicious—look it up!) countless times.

More than anything, she loved her family. Her husband, her children and their spouses, and her grandchildren—Erin, Grace, Nathan, Fletcher, and Archer—meant the world to her. She took tremendous pride in bragging about them all. Even though her sister Carol and brother John live across the country on opposite coasts, they would still get together as often as possible, and she was always up to date on her many nieces and nephews and their families. At every family get-together, she added a postscript to the Lord’s Prayer: “And God bless family.”

Mary Jane is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years, Richard; her three children, Michelle Hopkins [Scott], Renee Day [Randy], and John Keel [Larra]; and five grandchildren; brother John McDonnell [Randi]; sister Carol Jakub; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.

Viewing and visitation will be held on March 26, 2021, at 5 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Memorial Mass will be held on March 27, 2021, at 12 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Service League of Fort Smith or the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O. International – chapter BD/AR).