Obituary of Barbara M. Keyser

Barbara Morehouse Keyser (June 9, 1953 – September 22, 2023) The Keyser and Morehouse families are overcome with grief by the loss of our matriarch, Barbara Morehouse Keyser, at the age of 70. Barbara grew-up in Geneva, NY, graduating from Geneva High School in 1971. She went on to nursing school and immediately began a nursing career in Canandaigua, NY, always putting others before herself, which was a trait that continued throughout her life. Barbara was a life-long learner, studying Medical Informatics at Arcadia School of Commerce (Class of 1975) and Liberal Arts at FLCC (Class of 1999). Barbara married the love of her life, Ted Keyser, on January 30, 1973, and they were nearly inseparable for 50 wonderful years. They founded and for many years operated a successful business, Keyser Mechanical. Barbara and Ted retired together to Florida before ultimately returning to Canandaigua, NY. Other than Ted, the light of Barbara's life was their son Scott (Theresa) and five grandchildren - Isabella, Jonathan, Colin, Ruthie, and Ewen Keyser. Barbara was so full of life and spirit that she lit up every room in which she entered. These and other wonderful qualities allowed her to bind together the large extended families with whom she was universally beloved. Barbara left us all too early, but our consolation is that she lived life to the fullest in her too short 70 years. Barbara had a passion for reading, writing, and telling stories, and for an extended period in the 1980s, wrote a recurring column in the Newark Courier Gazette entitled "Are We Having Fun Yet" under the pseudonym Sudie Nymm, sharing her amazing sense of humor. Her wit will be greatly missed and seems to have been inherited from her father, Colin Jan Morehouse. Barbara made countless friends on the many cruises that she took with Ted (preferring the top of the ship), and at home enjoyed spending time with Ted watching movies and British crime dramas. Barbara especially loved children of all ages and sizes, often being referred to as "Aunt Barbara" by the children of friends and relatives. Barbara was the matriarch of both the Keyser and Morehouse families, both of which benefited from a long and rich history in America and Britain. Barbara was a direct lineal descendant of Isaac Morehouse, a minuteman in 1775 and soldier throughout the American Revolution, and who himself was a direct lineal descendant of Thomas Morehouse who immigrated to Weathersfield Connecticut from London in 1639 and among 27 settlers who founded Stamford Connecticut. Prior to London, the Morehouse family resided, at least as early as 1483, in Kirkburton, a civil parish and ward in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England, and in 1333 was granted land in Lancashire, England by Edward III. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Ted Keyser, son Scott Keyser (Theresa) of Marion, NY, grandchildren Isabella, Jonathan, Colin, Ruthie, and Ewen Keyser, sister Patricia Morehouse Radice (Bob Radice), nephews Michael Radice and Michael Patrick Buck, brother Colin Jan Morehouse (Pat), and many cousins. Barbara was sadly predeceased by her younger sister Sue Morehouse Buck who was married to Michael Buck. Barbara faced her illness with the dignity, courage, and charm to which she lived her life, serving as an inspiration to us all. She will be buried with her parents (Colin Jan and Loretta Morehouse) and grandparents (William Stanley and Henrika Albertine Morehouse) at Glenwood Cemetery in Geneva, NY in a private family service.