Sarah Keel Obituary

SARAH (YOUNG) KEEL

November 8, 1942 January 17, 2024

Bakersfield Sarah, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away in Bakersfield, California, surrounded by the love and compassion of her family. She was 81. Sarah was born in 1942, in Taft, California, and spent her early years in both Taft and Ft. Worth, Texas. Sarah will be cherished for her unwavering dedication to her family, friends, and grand doggies.

Sarah was a Christian and baptized in her youth by the Church of Christ where she worshiped with her family for many years. She often held bible studies at home on Alta Vista and styled church ladies' hair into Aqua-Net, bouffant buns for Sunday services. She was a loving and devoted homemaker, creating a warm and nurturing environment with homemade trendy clothes and wonderful meals, especially Sunday's roast beef dinners and homemade ice cream. She was actively involved in the Longfellow PTA and never missed her children's events.

In 1980, Sarah and Dan relocated to the mountain community of Twin Oaks with their youngest children after they purchased an 80-acre horse ranch. Sarah became President of the Caliente Educational Foundation where she helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school district and co-founded the Caliente Team Penning, which grew to be one of the premier events on the West Coast. She was a horse racing fan and became a small-time horse breeder of both racing Appaloosas and Quarter horses. The first horse she bred, Go Bright Buck, became Reserve-champion Appaloosa of California in 1983.

She later moved to Bakersfield and studied to be a real estate agent where she would become a top producer at Prudential and Coldwell Banker. She was so proud to assist her kids with buying their first homes. Sarah loved music, movies and traveling to her favorite destinations: Pismo Beach, Hawaii, and Las Vegas.

Perhaps Sarah's greatest love was for her grandchildren. She enjoyed devoting her time by cheering at their games, having them over for Sunday dinner, helping with school pick up and drop off, going out to lunch with them, offering to do their laundry or just spending quality time at her home with them. Her frequent visits, phone calls, video calls and voicemails are cherished memories for each one.

For the last decade, Sarah battled cancer, other illnesses, and hospitalizations. She had caring doctors and caregivers that fought along with her, and we thank them.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, Ellen Gertrude and Hershel Thomas Young, husband Daniel Keel, brothers Willard and Jerry Young and her granddaughter Robin. She leaves behind her children: Rick (Cheryl), Sherry, Mary (Jerry), Jennifer (Allan), Laura (Dale) and Andy; grandchildren: Amanda, Jake, Robert, Tabatha, Cameron, Tyler, Katie, Lexi, Joseph and Jonathon; wonderful great grandchildren, sister Judy (Dave), and nieces and nephews.

Sarah wove a legacy of love, togetherness, and cherished memories that will be treasured by all who knew her. Please join us for a Celebration of Life at Hillcrest on February 16, 2024 at 1:00PM.

www.bakersfield.com/obits