Lita Medez Keller: July 6, 1947 – Jan. 7, 2017

Lita Medez Keller, aged 69, of Oak Harbor, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville.

Born Lita Oyamen Medez, July 6, 1947, she was born into the dismal aftermath of WWII in Cebu City, Republic of the Philippines. Life there was hard and unimaginably difficult for most Americans to comprehend today.

Eventually working assorted small jobs, Lita came to meet Ronald Keller during Christmas of 1980.

Lita came to the USA in spring of 1982, married Ronald and lived in Lemoore, Calif., several years before moving to Whidbey Island, where they made a home until she passed away.

Strong willed, Lita found work for herself in the Mount Vernon area for over two decades, finishing her working life at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Her proudest moment came when she was sworn in as a citizen of the United States in Seattle.

Lita’s passions were animals and flowers. Cats in particular, but also her beloved cockapoos. She spent endless hours grooming and caring for her animal friends. Her little garden was her piece of paradise where she spent many hours tending to a wide variety of flowers the whole neighborhood enjoyed viewing. She loved to watch wild birds through her bay window, especially doves and cardinals.

Lita was such an animal advocate, she’d catch a rogue spider in the house and release it outdoors. It didn’t matter what animal she would find near her, she’d have a compulsion to feed it.

Surviving Lita are her husband Ronald Keller and her daughter Jenifer and son-in-law Carl Armstrong of Oregon, along with her grandson Jacob. Also surviving are her step-children Stephanie and Manny Ritzel and Tanya and Keith Stokes, all of South Carolina.

Wishing to leave as she came into this world, she passed away at Careage of Whidbey and was cremated, her ashes retained by her always beloved husband.

Arrangements were made by Whidbey Memorial.