Virginia R. Keeton

Virginia Rose Parks Keeton, age 93, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 19, 2015 at Vintage Park in Louisburg, Kansas. Virginia was born to Arthur and Bertha (Kiser) Parks on February 17, 1922 in Burlington, Kansas. She was the oldest of her six siblings. She lived a long happy life surrounded by loved ones, family and friends. Virginia had many stories of her living on a train for part of her life but lived most of her life in Paola and Louisburg, Kansas. She ran the Jackson and Commercial Hotels in Paola, Ks. She was active in Eastern Star, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, a Brownie leader and active in the Miami County 4H program. Virginia worked at Shawnee Mission Medical Center for approximately 20 years. Once retired from Shawnee Mission she became a Foster Grandparent at the Paola Elementary School. Virginia was an avid reader, loved to fish and garden, played the piano by ear, was a card shark and enjoyed completing puzzles and many other activities. Virginia was married on December 23, 1941 to Harley Keeton (deceased) which ended in divorce in 1976. She was a hard working farm wife and mother who lived on the family farm in Paola, Kansas to raise her three daughters, Harlene Cicchese (Mike) of Wildwood, Mo; Marsha Papst (Doug) of Louisburg, Ks; and Cheryle Brandt (Dale) of Paola, Ks. Other surviving family members include her youngest sister, Edith Kronberg of Rochester, Indiana; seven grandchildren, Ron Cicchese of Labadie, Mo; Kim Papst Trageser of Louisburg, Ks; Tina Italiano of Illinois; Christine Cicchese Reed of Saint Louis, Mo; April Brandt Coleman of Pleasanton, Ks; Brandi Brandt of Paola, Ks.; and Stephen Long of California; fifteen great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and many other family members and friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, three younger brothers; LeRoy Parks, Ulysses, Ks; Dale Parks, Jet, Ok; Arthur (Bud) Parks, Chilhowee, Mo.; one younger sister, Maxine Hardey, Enid, Ok. and one grandson, Adam Papst, Louisburg, KS. Virginia Keeton"s family would like to extend our gratitude to all of the staff at Vintage Park Assisted Care Center in Louisburg, KS for all of the loving care and attention given to Virginia over the past eleven years. Also, a special thank you to Interim Hospice Care and each of their employees that cared and prayed for Virginia. A private service will be held. To share your memories of Virginia or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.