Barbara Sue Keber

Barbara Sue Keber, loving mother and friend passed away at the age of 72. Barbara was born on December 27, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee to James and Sue Stimpson. She met Ken Keber, who was enlisted in the Navy, in December of 1966 in Memphis and they were married June 8, 1967.  Soon after, she gave birth to Allen Keber in 1968 while still living in Memphis. Barbara and Ken were stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego where until 1970 when they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where Adam Keber was born in 1971.

While in Alaska, Barbara and Ken were known for hosting college baseball players while they played for the Alaska Gold Panners to which several players went to play in the major leagues, most famous being Odibbe McDowell who played for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and Atlanta Braves from 1985-1994.

Being a mother to two hockey boys, she never missed a game no matter the weather or how many miles it took to travel to the game.  She was a dedicated hockey mom and her boy’s biggest fan, she adopted the whole team as her own and made sure every player had a cheerleader.  Her dedication didn’t stop there, she attended every hockey, soccer, and baseball game that her grandson, Kyler had, leaving her legacy.

Barbara had a fulfilling career at Market Basket/Super Value during the 1970’s until the mid-1990’s. She was known for her kind heart; she was known as the “store mom” and after retiring, she stayed in Alaska until 2001 when she moved to Texas to be close to her only grandchild, Kyler Keber. In 2017, her great-grandson, Sheldon Keber was born and she was over-the-moon in love.

In 2018, Barbara moved to Abilene to be close to Adam and Lindsay where she was moved to a specialized nursing home where she learned to enjoy her days and meeting new friends.

Barbara had a great love for the Outdoors whether it was keeping score at her son’s hockey games, watching her grandson play baseball or soccer, camping, boating, or planting flowers in her yard. Barbara had a loving spirit and a kind heart for everybody she met.  She always was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone she thought needed it.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother, Sue and father, James Stimpson, and her brothers, Gary and Michael. She is survived by her sister, Anna Dean (Peachy), cousin, Betty, ex-husband, Ken Keber and their sons, Allen and Adam Keber, daughter-in-law, Lindsay Keber, Adam and Lindsay’s daughters, Skye and Meadow Higgason, her grandson, Kyler Keber, great grandson, Sheldon Keber.

A celebration of life will be held in July as Barbara will be brought back home to Fairbanks to her final resting place.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that all donations be made to a Dementia/Alzheimer’s Organization in Barbara Keber’s name.