Christabelle Christine Keys passed away on November 16, 2024, at Water’s Edge Care Center in Hayward, Wisconsin at the age of 97. She was born on April 2, 1927 in Mystic, Connecticut to parents, William E. and Ruth Clark.

Christabelle was raised in Connecticut until the age of 7 when her parents both died within a year of each other. As her father had been a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, he had arranged for his three children to be sent to the orphanage called, “Mooseheart” in the event of both parents’ deaths. At the age of seven, Christabelle and her two young brothers traveled across the country from Connecticut to Illinois on a train to reach Mooseheart (called the “Child City”). At Mooseheart, they provided children with a home-like environment, training, and an excellent education (both academic and vocational). Christabelle always said how grateful she was to have grown up there as it was a wonderful place—except her parents weren’t there. She loved to tell many interesting stories about her experience there. She left Mooseheart at age 17 with suitcase in hand to go to New Jersey to find a job in food service.

In 1963, she met and married the love of her life, Hobart “Ray” Keys, along with his four beautiful children whom Christabelle also fell in love with. She and Ray proceeded to have three more children together. Upon learning that their daughter, Desiree, was deaf, Christabelle went to classes to learn sign language to be able to communicate with her. Then in 1979, Christabelle learned that she was going blind, so she had the necessary surgery to be able to see again. During her recuperation, she needed something to keep herself busy, so she learned to crochet and made about 40 afghans during that time to give as gifts. Always one to stay busy, she also loved gardening and reading and studying her Bible. In 1984, when Ray retired from his job, he and Christabelle moved to Wisconsin and built their dream cabin in the Northwoods.

In 1996, Ray had a massive stroke and when he was able to come home from the hospital, Christabelle took care of him at their cabin in Winter, Wisconsin for the next 12 years until he passed away in 2008. They had celebrated 45 years together.

Christabelle’s faith was of utmost importance to her. She loved the Lord with all her heart and soul, and her Seventh-day Adventist Church family in Hayward, WI had a special place in her life.

Even after having lived a difficult early life, she was always grateful to God for His care for her and she never complained about her lot in life. She always felt her 97 years were blessed, especially with her large family of children.

Christabelle is survived by her daughter, Desiree (Keys) Bogle; four step-children: Deborah Banke, Dallas (Bonnie) Keys, Lavaul (Carol) Keys, and Wilson Keys; six grandchildren: Rachel Banke, Stephanie (Zach) Knutsen, Jessica (Nate) Brinkmeier Elyce Keys, Jason (Terri) Keys, and Nathan Keys; four great-grandchildren: Jael, John, Kailin and Alissa; two special nephews, Robert Clark and Tim Clark, and many other nephews and nieces and special friends, Jan Anderson and Nancy Nelson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray; two brothers, William Clark and Alvin Clark; her children; Reba Keys, Marlyn Keys, Edward Self and Robert Self.

Assisting in arrangements for Christabelle’s final resting place is Hayward Funeral Home in Hayward who have been so kind and helpful. She will be interred in Lakewood Memorial Park in Elgin, Illinois next to her beloved husband, Ray on Thursday, November 21st at 12:00 noon. Special thanks to the staff at Water’s Edge Care Center in Hayward for their sweet and kind care of Christabelle for the last five years.

Last Update: Nov 19, 2024 1:46 pm CST