Doris Keyes
August 28, 1946 - October 15, 2023
Obituary
FITCHBURG- Doris Ann Keyes, age 77, passed away Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, at home. She was born in Norfolk, Va., on Aug. 28, 1946, the daughter of Arthur and Alberta (Burlage) Roth. Doris grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, but returned to visit family in Virginia each summer. She attended high school at the Academy of Visitation in Dubuque. She then went on to University Wisconsin- Platteville earning a B.A. in Education and later achieved her Master’s in Secondary Education from Viterbo University.
During her career as an educator, Doris was a member of several union groups: NEA, WEA and OEA, her local union group. She served many terms as an OEA building representative at Oregon High School, and served one term as OEA President because she believed in trying to achieve better working conditions and improved salary and benefits for teachers.
Doris dedicated her entire professional life to teaching, primarily focusing on English and speech for over three decades at Oregon High School (OHS). She was also deeply involved in OHS theater productions and excelled as a forensics coach, taking immense pride in the numerous honors her students achieved at regional and state competitions. It is not uncommon to this day for her daughters to meet an OHS graduate who exclaims,”Mrs. Keyes is your mom?! She was my favorite teacher!” Doris never stopped teaching or learning and actively took online classes through the UW-Madison.
All those who knew Doris, knew how special she is and how closely she held God in her heart. She was our angel on Earth and she cared so deeply for her friends and family, but also anyone she met. Her innate kindness radiated through her twinkling blue eyes and beautiful smile. She wanted to know everyone’s story and lived through their adventures the past few years as she could leave her home less and less. Her generosity, warmth, and sense of humor endeared her to many and made her a friend to all.
Doris is survived by her husband of 53 years, Dan; daughters, Kellye (Matt) Golden and Nicole (Chris) Roepe; four grandchildren, Lucas, Emerson, Jacob and Natalie; brother, Robert (Terri) Roth; and sister-in-law, Beverly Roth; many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Jerry Roth.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, with Monsignor Kevin Holmes presiding. Burial will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday.
Memorials may be made to the Doris Keyes Scholarship Fund, DeForest Community Bank, 321 N. Main St., Ste. 100, DeForest, WI 53532.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002