Betty M. Keever died at the age of 90 in Newberry South Carolina surrounded by family on December 21 2015. A funeral service will be held at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church in Newberry on January 8 2016 at 11:00 a.m. The burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be buried next to her husband Bernard V. Keever who preceded her in death. Betty was from a small Midwestern town Bridgeport Illinois. She always marveled at her experiences and how much of the world she was able to see. At 19 she married Bernard who was in the U.S. Army Air Corp stationed at George Field in Illinois and began her life of travel. She saw much of the United States and even lived in Japan while her husband was active duty. As a military wife frequently moving her family she instilled the importance of family supporting each other. With each new move she showed us the beauty of the new location and created a warm and inviting place to call home. Once her husband retired she continued to travel visiting or traveling with her now grown children in Europe New York Florida (where she eventually settled) Arizona Nevada California Missouri Kentucky Georgia and South Carolina. Always inquisitive Betty kept up on current events fashion politics advances in medicine and technology. And always a bit adventurous she cruised from Japan to Hong Kong in high seas went hot air ballooning snorkeled travelled through Europe and cruised the Caribbean. In her later years she travelled between her home in Mary Esther Florida and Newberry SC where she found a passion for playing cards. She attended weekly card games at her friends homes enjoying conversation and fellowship around the table. . Betty was a strong independent and loving mother grandmother and great-grandmother. She was truly the matriarch of the Keever family. She taught her children the importance of family not by words but by example through kindness love and humor. Betty had a strong sense of fairness but never judged others. Everyone always felt at home in her presence. A few weeks before her death she gathered her family from all over the world to share Thanksgiving together in Newberry. Four generations of Keevers told stories played music and were thankful for Bettys full and happy life. Betty continues to be an inspiration to her growing family. She will be missed by all those that had the pleasure of knowing her. Betty is survived by her four children Karen Chasteen of Newberry SC Kassandra Bakke of Mary Esther FL John Keever of Phoenix AZ and Sue Keever of Cortlandt Manor NY and by ten grandchildren fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to the American Kidney Fund www.kidneyfund.org or to the BrightFocus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Dr Clarksburg MD 20871 info@brightfocus.org. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home of Newberry is assisting the family.