Margaret Alice Keen

Margaret arrived in the world in Detroit, Michigan on 15 November 1938.  She grew up in Detroit and upon graduation from high school took a position with Michigan Bell Telephone.  She wanted to see more of life, so she gave her indominable soul permission to explore and enlisted in the Navy in 1960.  She was always very proud of her years spent in the uniform of her country.

Later she married and brought three cherished children into the world—Michael Patrick, Kevin Christopher, and Suzanne Kathryn.  She spent the rest of her professional career in service to the US Navy as part of the civil service.  She retired after 38 years in 2010.  Her hobbies included regularly being a spirited bingo player at the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Lodge.  Margaret assisted with the Knights of Columbus bingo for over 25 years. She was a 40-year resident of Ridgecrest.

She strongly believed the words from II Corinthians 5:7 that we "walk by faith, not by sight" and she knew that idea was guiding her life's journey.

Late in life she was fortunate to meet her best friend and constant companion Robert Dillinger.  They enjoyed watching sports and old westerns, eating out, and finding peace sharing St. Ann's services and faith.

After a short battle with cancer, she left this life on 30 December 2022.  She understood the journey wasn't always smooth, but the arrival would make it all worthwhile.

She is survived by her three children, her best friend, and her sister Barbara Aivalotis of Englewood, Ohio.

Visitation will be held at Holland and Lyons in Ridgecrest on January 18, 2023 from 4pm-7pm.

There will be a funeral mass at St Ann's on January 19, 2023 at 930am.

She will be interred at Bakersfield National Cemetery on January, 19  2023 following mass at St. Ann's church.