Dolores Laverne Keeling passed away surrounded by her family on May 5, 2016 at age 78 in Eureka.

Dolores was born to Pearl Davis (Knight) & Edgar Keeling on Sept. 13, 1937 in Deatsville, Kentucky — the first of three children they would have before separating.

Laverne, as she called by her family, was loved greatly. During the first few years of Aunt Laverne’s life the family moved from Kentucky to California and back.  At the age of four years the family returned back to California, where she lived throughout the state until moving to Humboldt County in the ‘60s. She would call Humboldt her home.

Although Laverne never had any of her own children, she had a huge love and affection for numerous nieces and nephews that she loved endlessly like they were her own. Many would call her Aunt Laverne.

Aunt Laverne had a great love for many things, especially pets and flowers. She had many cats throughout her lifetime that received the best of care that anyone could ever give to them. She would spend many hours outside in her rose gardens. Planting  petunias and sweet peas during the spring months was one of her many pasttime enjoyments.

Her heart was big, always kind, loving and would give the shirt off her own back to any. Aunt Laverne was very special to all. She had a memory that wouldn’t stop. She remembered many things, even down to the very last cent!

She is survived by her sister, Wilma Senteney of Eureka, and her brother Gene Knight and his wife Jan of Eugene, Ore.; her loving nieces Sherrie Warnow, Cindy Knight, Rhonda Greek, Wendy Pesce, Sherrie Hurst, Stephanie Gardner, Lori Knight, Lynn Keeling, Kristie Keeling and Jill Keeling; her nephews Mickey Johnston, Steven Warnow, Jeff Brockman, Patrick Knight, Shannon Knight, Brian Senteney and Jason Senteney; her great-nieces Brittney Warnow, who greatly helped Aunt Laverne and shared a special bond with her, and Lisa Ostlund; her great-nephews and great-nieces Brian Warnow, David Ostlund, Lance Ostlund, Bruce Leaton, Devon Allen, Nick Greek, Jeremy Johnson and Barbara Johnson; and by many friends and neighbors.

Aunt Laverne was predeceased by her father, mother and brothers Shasta Keeling and Richard Knight and his wife Julie.

A celebration of her life will be held at The Monday Club, located at  610 Main Street, Fortuna, on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.  A potluck will follow the service. Please come, bring and share stories of Aunt Laverne and celebrate with all of us.

She will be greatly missed by family and many close friends.

Laverne loved making charitable donations to many different charities. You can contribution in her memory to any charitable organization. Which she would say….”Thanks a million and stuff.”

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The obituary above was submitted by Laverne Keeling’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.