Carol was born on February 24, 1952, in Washington, D.C., to Richard Neff Keller, originally from Nebraska, and Kathryn Morrissey Keller, originally of Massachusetts. Carol is the middle child of 3 children of Richard and Kathryn Keller and is survived by her two sisters, Elizabeth A. Keller, “Liz”, 73, and Michelle K. Keller, “Miki”, 67. Carol was affectionately known by her sisters as “BD”, a nickname given by her parents as a baby that stuck.
Carol grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., in Alexandria, Virginia, and attended St. James Catholic School in Falls Church, Virginia, and later Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria, Virginia, and she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy high school in Alexandria in 1970. Carol was a beauty with her striking chestnut wavy brown hair, blue eyes, slim build and 5’8” height in contrast to the reddish coloring and shorter stature of Liz and Michelle. She attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. Carol was wicked smart and showed signs of an amazing artistic talent in drawing, painting, and photography. After graduating college, she worked for the Veterans’ Administration counseling veterans. In 1985, she competed for and was selected for a U.S. Navy executive service civilian position in San Diego, and transferred to California in 1986 and settled in to La Jolla and later San Diego.
She remained in California until February 2019 when she moved to Mesa, Arizona. Her younger sister, Michelle, moved to Arizona from Alexandria, Virginia, in 2004. Then, in 2020, Liz, moved to Arizona. For the first time in more than 30 years, the 3 sisters were living in the same state. Carol moved from Mesa, Arizona, to Queen Creek, Arizona, in 2022. She slipped away quietly and peacefully in her sleep in her home in Queen Creek, Arizona, on March 17, 2023; she was only 71.
Elizabeth, Carol, and Michelle are a trinity of souls forged as children in this world and forever connected and bound together. She was beautiful, a teacher, mentor, counselor, guide, coach, protector, animal lover, sarcastic, funny, and powerfully independent blazing her own trail. She will always be loved, appreciated, and admired. We feel blessed she was sent to us.