Elizabeth Rae Keller

March 8, 2022

Elizabeth Rae Keller, “Beth”, was born January 21, 1948 to Richard and Betty Fiscus (Williams), in Youngstown, OH. Beth, age 74, passed away from Earth on March 8, 2022. Beth was at the Citrus Hospice House, a beautiful facility in Lecanto, FL. Beth lived in Palm Harbor since 1992. Beth did not live in Lecanto, because honestly, “Lecanto sucks” (if you are to believe the graffiti on the boat underpass on your way to The Three Sisters Springs). The reason I know this is because we took a boat out that way many times to see the manatees. It was a fun adventure. Our family went on many fun adventures. Mom, was always adamant about spending copious amounts of quality times with your loved ones that sometimes seemed to border (but never crossed) into excess. Looking back, it was never excess. Beth was our light, our beacon, the matriarch of the Keller family. Gary Lee Keller was visiting his sister, Dolores, and they were driving down the street together when he first saw Beth. He said to Dolores, “I am going to marry that girl,” and he did. Beth married Gary Lee Keller, of Cumberland, MD on March 9, 1968. Beth gave birth to Tricia Elizabeth Helene Keller on October 12, 1971. She loved Tricia with all of her heart, one hundred percent. This lasted until Beth gave birth to her baby boy, Ross Garland Keller II on September 23, 1982, at this moment her love was split 50/50 between her two children (maybe 51/49, depending on who’s answering). Beth saw her main contribution to society as being a world class mother, and wife. She accomplished so much during her career as a mom and wife (including mother of the year in 89’ and again in 02’, and WOTY in 2010). Beth took her job raising her children very seriously. She constantly surrounded them with love, laugher, and the gentlest judgment free kindness. She was at every sporting event, every kindergarten graduation, and every yellow belt ceremony. In her presence both of her children, and all of their friends were surrounded by warmth. Beth was also very, very bright, well read, and a quick learner. At the age of 50 she used those skills to go into her second profession as a Patient Care Tech at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, FL. Beth was a natural and thrived at her profession as a caretaker from her past experience as an exceptional wife and mother. Beth approached every day humbly, without ego, and with a level of empathy unfathomable to most. Her patients and co-workers – from the custodians to the brain surgeons – admired and respected her equally and that is a testament to how she treated others regardless of their caste. Over her ten-year career at BayCare, Beth earned many accolades and awards for her performance. Beth was also the co-founder of Ross Insurance Group, established 2004, in Dunedin, FL. She did not wish for an active role but did provide needed emotional and financial support for the upstart insurance agency. Beth was the antithesis of a taker. Her mind was as sharp as a tack. Her wit was the quickest, even until the final days. By looking at her, one may get the impression of shyness or even weakness, but she was the complete opposite. When something needed to be said, she would say it, when something needed to be done, she was the strongest. She needed to trust someone before she let them in, but when she did, your life was change forever. She loved to laugh and making her laugh were some of my greatest accomplishments as she did not crack easy (but maybe after re-reading this obituary, I can understand why she didn’t laugh so much?). Bethie, as some of her friend referred to her as, loved all of God’s animals. She was an advocate for the voiceless multi-leg creatures before it was the thing to do. Biggie and Twinkie, her kitties, were her favorite and she took care of both for over 20 years. Beth would do anything for the animals, including donating her time and money to assist in the caring or rehabilitation of animals. She was a propent of spaying and neutering and adopting as opposed to purchasing. Beth also supported the arts throughout her life, with an emphasis on cinema in her early life, and ballet, often accompanied by her granddaughter Zoey, in her later life. In her final chapter, Beth cared for our father Gary as he got progressively more ill and celebrated her grandchildren. Mom became known as Nanni to her grandchildren, Zoey Helene Keller, age 12, and Annabelle Elizabeth MacGregor, age 7, and assisted in the raising of these two beautiful young ladies whom we continue to raise in The Way of the Nanni ™. The Way of the Nanni ™ seems simple in principal but is much more difficult in practice. Nanni’s Way is doing the right thing no matter the level of difficulty and often without concern for one’s own wellbeing. She yearned not for adoration or applause yet yearned for the world to treat one another with kindness (and continued fighting for that until her last breath). The things she said. The things she did. The way she did and said things. Those were the blueprint or, “The Way” to handle life correctly with grace and dignity. The problem? To paraphrase Philadelphia rapper, Meek Mill, “Gangstas move in silence, and Nanni didn’t talk a lot.” She was an OG, a throwback, vintage without the frills, but we watched when she didn’t think we were watching. Most of the time not a single soul would see her almost daily acts of humanity. Whether it be messaging an old acquaintance to check in on the them as their Facebook status indicated they were having a bad day or walking down to the lake a second time to feed the runt duck because he didn’t get any food the first time because his siblings were bullying him. We saw her do those things though and we took note. Everyone in our family does our best to emulate her in some way; to match her forward-thinking fashion sense or her taste in new music. Though at times the question is pondered out loud, “Mom/Nanni/Beth, did you have to set the bar so high in every discipline?” Beth Rae Keller will be remembered as the most beloved and respected mother, the most magnificent Nanni, and a loyal and true friend to all (from those with two legs, to those with sixteen). Her life was marked with trips, adventures, and fun for the most part. Our only hope is there could have been more. But she would say, “Remember the time you shared not what you didn’t get or think of those who grew up without a parent.” And we will. She gave us all the wisdom she had, and gave every part of herself to those who she knew and loved. Nanni was a beautiful woman, stunning woman, a majestic woman, a Queen. Hug and kissed your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Do a small act of kindness for someone; pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line, spend some time with those who are often forgotten, or stop and help the turtle get across to the other side of the road safely. If you need a reason? Do it for Nanni, because Nanni would have done it for you. Beth will be missed, mourned, and loved by all. Beth is survived by her son Ross Keller, daughter in law Cara Ellen Keller (Crawford), and granddaughter Zoey Keller, of Tarpon Springs, FL. Beth is survived by her daughter Tricia MacGregor, son in law Andrew Ian MacGregor, and Annabelle MacGregor, of Homosassa, FL. She is also survived by her sister Cynthia Haider of Minnesota and brother Richard Fiscus of Ohio. She has twelve nieces and nephews throughout the US as well. The wake/viewing will be held March 17, 2022 from 6pm to 8pm. The funeral service will begin at 11am on March 18, 2022. Both events will be at Curlew Hill Memorial Gardens in Palm Harbor, FL. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Tampa Bay Humane Society or S