Mary Ellen Keith

Mary Ellen Keith, age 88, of Vermontville, who died on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at C.V.P.H Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Born in Vermontville, Feb 23, 1929, the daughter of Robert and Hazel Tyler Goff, she was the oldest of twelve children.

She married the love of her life Patrick Keith, August 18, 1949, and together they raised nine children and seven foster children. She obtained her LPN and worked at the General Hospital of Saranac Lake for 36 years before retiring. She and Patrick then opened an Adult Proprietary Home which they ran for over 15 years.

Mary Ellen loved her town and was elected Town Supervisor for the Town of Franklin in 1979, and in 1997 for a total of 18 years. She always looked for ways to improve the community in which she lived. Together with Patrick, they established the St Pauls Food Pantry, Vermontville in 1980, for which she was still the acting coordinator.

She received many awards for her generous volunteer work and never ending commitment to her community and love of politics. She was named NYS Senior of the year in 2016 with a special recognition in the Senate. She received her award in Albany as a surprise to her. She was very humbled by it and felt she hadn't done anything to earn it.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, James and Rita Keith, Kathleen and Bradley Merrill, Elizabeth Baldwin, Mary Jo Rohe, Robert and Joannie Keith, Sara and George Besaw, Arthur Keith and Sheri Eaton, Barbara Talley, son in law Dennis Muzzy, and a special son, Paul Allen. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Patrick, daughter Susan Muzzy, Son in laws Charles Baldwin and Roger Rohe and granddaughter Alnee Baldwin-Bailey.

She is also survived by her siblings, Gene, Thomas, Donald and David Goff and Betty Wilson and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Bruce, John, Robert Goff, Emma Keith, Lou LaBrake, and Anna Yott.

Calling hours are set to take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Friday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial is set to take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday September 30, 2017 at St. Paul's Church in Bloomingdale, with Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

Friends wishing to remember Mary Ellen Keith may make memorial contributions to the St. Paul’s/Assumption Food Pantry in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share thier memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.