Favorite scripture: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Nina Mae (Tappan) Keeley, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend passed away peacefully on Friday, July 17th, 2026, at the age of 93. She was born on July 25, 1932 in Gaston, Indiana to parents Paul Merrill Tappan and Nora Crystal (Broyles) Tappan. She was a woman of great faith, a prayer warrior and a beautiful Christian example to her family and those around her. She was an active member of the Shafter Church of Christ for over 60 years, involved in and supportive of many ministries. She was married to her grade school sweetheart and love of her life, Paul Edward Keeley, until his passing on February 19, 2011. She received her Nursing degree from Ball State School of Nursing (Muncie, IN) in June 1952, and worked at Ball Memorial Hospital when she married Paul, who was home for a 3-month leave from the Navy, rekindling her relationship and marrying him on April 3, 1954 in Gaston, IN, enjoying 56 years together. For many years thereafter, she worked as a part-time nurse when needing to support the family income, but her primary love, talent and purpose was to be a caregiver and nourisher for her family. She, Paul and her 5 children journeyed to Shafter, CA in 1965, arriving on December 31st. She remained a resident of Shafter for the rest of her life. She always spoke fondly of making a vacation trip from IN to CA in 1950 with a High School friend and her family, never knowing at that time she would spend over 61 years of her life there. Growing up a farm girl in central Indiana, she never lost touch with her farming roots and deeply loved the agricultural legacy of the Southern San Joaquin Valley. She also loved her community involvement with the Shafter Historical Society, Community Bible Study and Senior Sack Day and she’ll will be missed.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, sister-in-law Mary Knotts, brother-in-laws, Charles Johnson and Charles Keeley, nephew, Don Knotts, and nieces, Connie Dow and Jane Herniak. Surviving are her children, Jeanne (Ben) Murphy of Winston, OR, Anne (Jeff) Taylor of Bakersfield, CA, Mark (Leann) Keeley of New Boston, TX, Janese Mann of Kennewick, WA, Jerry (Susan) Keeley of Fort Gibson, OK, grandchildren, Erica Mann, Tate Siemens, Tyson Mann, Jeffrey (Mallory) Bonthius, Mitchell (Laura) Mann, Lindi (Lance) Lewis, Cole Siemens, Jeffrey (Evan) Taylor II, Jodie (Ian) McKelvey, Janeil Mann, Blaine (Hayley) Taylor, Jeremiah Keeley, Elijah Keeley, Krista Keeley and Kali Keeley, great grandchildren, Eric Mann, Hannah and Hunter Siemens, Emma Coxen, Tucker Gribble, Jayvyn and Xander Kinsey, Stella and Rhett Lewis, Nora, Savanna and Vera McKelvey, Hayes, Raegan, Isla and Rhodes Taylor and Rowan Taylor, sister, Janette Johnson of Gaston, IN, sister-in-law, Trudy (Dave) Umberger, nephew, Devon Dow, nieces, Barb Bilby and Rhonda Davis, and cousin, Linda Sorenson.