Barbara Olene Keeley, 78, died Nov. 28 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born Sept. 6, 1932, in Geneva, Neb., she was the daughter of Edgar B. and Lettie (Peugh) Foster. She graduated from North Platte High School in Nebraska and received her RN license from St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, Colo. She later attained her Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University. She served in many capacities as a nurse for more than 40 years. Her last 17 years of her career were as a forensics nurse at Larned State Security Hospital. She had been a resident of Great Bend since 1993, and was previously a longtime resident of Larned.

On Sept. 19, 1953, she married Terry Dean Keeley at Denver, Colo. He died May 28, 2004.

She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Mrs. Keeley was of the Christian faith. She was a member of the American Nurses Association, Kansas State Nurses Association and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Larned.

Survivors include two sons, Terry Dean "Todd" Keeley Jr. of Pawnee Rock and Mike Keeley and wife Jan of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Matt Keeley and wife Jana, and Beth Keeley, all of Olathe, Christy Keeley of Omaha, Neb., and Cindy Beck and husband Erin of Great Bend; two great-grandsons, Cade Keeley and Lukas Beck; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Dorothy Miller and Margaret Casper.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Don Paden officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Larned Cemetery. Friends may visit from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.