Emmy Manning Keller
Emma Louise more commonly known as Emmy Lou Manning Keller was born April 7 th to her parents Josephine and Everett Harpham in Eugene, Oregon. Her parents provided a loving home, a lifetime of memories, and a stimulating environment for their only daughter. Emmy was interested in playing her cello, dancing, reading literature, non- fiction, music, theater, singing and opera. Emmy excelled in her education by graduating from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature . She also graduated with a Masters in Social Work from California Fresno State University in her mid life.
Emmy had a fascinating life to match her fun loving and intellectual personality in working various jobs. Her career changer was being accepted and hired to work for the Voice of America in the American Embassies of Iran and Morocco. Her job location made it possible to visit many countries in Europe as well as nearby countries. During her residency in Iran, Emmy took Spanish classes and became fluent in Spanish. She reinforced what she learnt by staying with a Mexican family in Mexico for a month speaking fluent Spanish. She traveled around the country learning the culture and history of various cities and villages in Mexico as well as the world.
Emmy hung up her dancing shoes of living overseas and decided on a career change by going to Fresno State and obtained her MSW and interned at Agnew’s Hospital in Santa Clara, CA. After her internship, Emmy was hired as an Assistant Director for the American Red Cross, San Diego Naval Hospital where she practiced and used her Master’s degree. The other reason Emmy moved back state side was to be closer to her mother who lived in Santa Barbara. Emmy then decided to practice her Social Work and Spanish abilities by transferring to Sharp’s Hospital assisting disabled children and working with their Spanish speaking parents. Her compassion, care and capabilities were rewarded to her in many ways.
Emmy decided that her mother needed her close by, so Emmy moved to Santa Barbara to look after her. Emmy worked at Mara Villa in Santa Barbara part time and she decided to retire from there. Emmy met her husband, Fred Keller at an Audubon birding field trip. She found her equal match with Fred and they enjoyed their life by taking care of Emmy’s mother, travelling, attending concerts at the Santa Barbara Music Academy, Lotus Land, theater, birding, hiking, and sharing moments with friends and family. Their home was a reflection of both of their passions in life by home décor from travels abroad, family heirlooms, music and many books and plants throughout their home. Even though they met each other later in life, their marriage was happy, loving and engaging for 20 plus years.
During Emmy’s lifetime, she was an avid community participant and enjoyed volunteering or became a member of various organizations. Her interests included the World Affairs Council, Theater Groups, Singing Groups, Santa Barbara Women’s Club, Santa Barbara Music Academy, Vista Del Monte’s Play Book and Book Club Group, Botanical Society, Succulent Society, and League of Women’s Voter.
She will be missed by all her friends and cousins, Heather Grieve and Family, Marilyn Pierce and Family, Joyce Swanson and Family, Janet Woodward (deceased) and Family, and Janet Wilkes and Family, nephew Bruce Fairbairn, niece Stephanie and Dick Franklin, great niece Elizabeth and Jonathan Abarbanel, grand niece Lori and Randy Moss and family.
