Shirley Anne Keep 89, of Gloucester passed away peacefully at her home on March 9, 2023. A Mass for Shirley will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, March 23 at St. Therese Catholic Church, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061 . A reception will follow immediately after the mass in the banquet hall at St Therese.   Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Alice Loretta and Richard Charles Greene, husband Richard Lee Keep and her daughters Mary McNeely, and Cindy Childrey. Her brothers Richard Greene and Jimmy Greene, and her great grandsons Daniel Magee and Aiden Mike.

Shirley was first and foremost a wonderful mother to her six children, (late)Mary McNeely, Elaine Goldfarb (Steve), Sylvia Black (Duane), Richard Mahoney (Susie), Patricia Keep, and (late) Cindy Childrey (late James Childrey). Shirley was a dedicated loving, and much-loved Grandmother and Me maw to her grandchildren. Sean Magee, Scott McNeely, Nick Chapman, Lee Chapman, Paul McNeely, Whitney Mike Cornish, Tricia McFarland, Patrick McFarland, Josh Opper and Chase Gigliello.  Shirley was blessed to be a part of her 21 great-grandchildren's lives.  Shirley is survived by her only living sibling Katherine Lowery.

Born and raised in Elmira New York by her parents Alice and Richard Greene, Shirley was the oldest of 4 siblings. Shirley graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1952, where she loved to participate in various extra-curricular activities, cheerleading being her most loved. After graduating she moved to Virginia and met her husband Richard Lee Keep who served in the Navy for 30 years.

During her travels with her husband Shirley lived in Great Lakes, IL where she was a Florist for the Naval Base Exchange. When she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota (Richard's hometown) where she worked for Dillards Department Store Foundation Department. Shirley also returned to Elmira, NY upon her husband's retirement and worked for Rosenbaums Department Store in Foundations.  Shirley worked for Sweet Reflections Boutique in Newport News, VA where at 71 years old Shirley retired from Sweet Reflections after many years of devoting her time while helping those with breast cancer. Shirley created a program with the Breast Cancer Society to help those who could not afford prosthesis. She receive donated prosthesis and was able to fit many of whom could not afford. Shirley dedicated her personal time to fit these men and woman for the prosthetics. Prostheses fittings became Shirley's life's work. Shirley was often asked by the local Doctors to speak at their seminars and share her secrets to fitting prosthesis. Shirley made many lifelong friendships in her travels and in her various jobs.

A devout Catholic, Shirley was a member of St. Patrick's Church and the Legion of Mary, Elmira, NY. Shirley will be missed by all the parishioners at St. Therese Catholic Church where she was a member and actively served on many occasions.

Shirley had many hobbies including crocheting, flower arranging, cheering on her favorite teams, The Vikings, and Minnesota Twins, participating in the Relay for Life, volunteering her time to help others, and was an amazing bowler. Her love for Piano music and reading was an inspiration to her children.

The family of Shirley Anne Keep wishes to thank Andrews Funeral Home and Crematory, The many wonderful Nurses from Riverside Hospital and Hospice Care and The Ladies and Priest from St. Therese Catholic church in Gloucester. Patty Keep her caretaker of 13 years.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Breast Cancer Society and St. Therese Catholic church.