Lorayne Keeling
Resident of Lafayette

Lorayne Louise Keeling, 85, devoted wife of William Lane Keeling, Jr. for over 64 years, departed this life on April 7, 2016. She was born in Oakland, California on September 30, 1930 and was the beloved daughter and only child of Marie and Bernard (Bert) Fratus, who were both also born in Oakland. She graduated Oakland High School and attended the University of California at Berkeley where she was active in the Kappa Delta sorority and where she met Bill, the love of her life. In their Lafayette, California home, where they lived for all of their 64 years together, they raised four sons - Gregg, David, John and Matthew Keeling. She would often say that raising boys was easier than girls and that she loved getting wonderful daughters-in-law.

Lorayne was an excellent cook and homemaker and enjoyed her garden. She also was an excellent swimmer; she learned and performed synchronized swimming in her younger days (think Esther Williams) and into her 80's enjoyed daily swims and vacationing on the island of Maui for a month every year, often swimming beyond the breakers. She enjoyed skiing and vacationing at Lake Tahoe with her family and had a life-long love of dancing. In her 50's and 60's she stayed in shape exercising in an aerobic dance class and annually performed in a dance review with "Lavinia's Lovelies." Lorayne loved to travel, but she looked forward to no trip more than the Keeling family's annual stay in the El Dorado National Forest on their property at Stumpy Meadows, first in tents and later in their cabin. Lorayne was exceptionally personable and out-going and had dozens of life-long friends and acquaintances. She will be mourned and missed by many.

In addition to her husband Bill, Lorayne is survived by her four sons along with seven grandchildren and her cousins Bill, Barney and Steven Lenheim. The Keelings are long-time parishoners at St. Perpetua's Catholic Church in Lafayette, where a memorial service for Lorayne will be held in May.