Ethel Chisholm Keyes

Ethel Chisholm Keyes died peacefully at home with her cousin, friend and caregiver at her side on July 18, 2023. Her family originated from Scotland and Ireland and immigrated to Ontario, Canada. She was born December 9, 1919 in Vancouver, Canada to Nina Florence Fisk Chisholm and Thomas Bacon Chisholm. They moved to Los Angeles, CA when she was three, following her grandfather. Ethel had one brother, James Chalmers Chisholm, who predeceased her. She has a second cousin, Nancee French Sanders from Laguna Woods, CA, who has three children; Steven Hoffmaster, Kim Hoffmaster Kunz, and Lauren Hoffmaster. Her mother had two brothers, Jim Fisk and Author Fisk. She was very fond of one of her father’s wives, who she called Aunt Fanny. She was always talking about her, how much she loved her, and how she made clothes for her. Ethel went to Belmont High School, and later went to Metropolitan Business School in LA. She had close high school friends, Veronica Murray and her boyfriend, Al. They decided to have Ethel meet Al’s friend, Tommy Keyes, a Naval Flight Officer. Ethel said “It was love at first sight for Tommy.” Ethel and Tommy dated for a few years, and then later Tommy proposed by letter from Panama. She always said “My grandfather liked Tommy, because he was Catholic.” At age 23, Ethel boarded a train alone traveling for five days, and went to New York City.

She was met at Grand Central Station by his mother and sister to marry Tommy. Tommy was coming in from Panama. They married January 1, 1943. After marriage, they took a train to Washington DC, where they visited with friends. Tommy went back to Panama, and Ethel stayed in DC with a girlfriend and worked at Carnegie Institute. After, they got stationed in Pensacola, Florida for Tommy’s Flight Training.

Then he was assigned to a transport unit flying sick people to Washington DC to St. Elizabeth Hospital from the Post War. Ethel decided to move back to Washington, where she worked for the Southern Telephone Company. They transferred again to the Philippines, then had orders to Hawaii. They later transferred to Pax River, Maryland and Washington, DC to the Defense Language School. Later transferring to Norfolk, Virginia, then to the Dominican Republic where Tommy was the attache to Dictator Trujilio. In 1950, later transferred to Newport Rhode Island. After a few days, Tommy got immediate orders and left for the Korean War. Ethel repacked in two to three days and moved to Coronado, California in 10 days. She went back to Canada to be with her mother for awhile. Upon returning, she bought a home here at 821 Guadalupe, for $13,000. In 1960, Ethel and Tommy were transferred to the Air Force Academy in Colorado where he retired. They again returned to Coronado, and in 1964 she purchased a home at 550 J Ave for $35,000 and then 521 Alameda for $30,000.

Ethel learned to play bridge at 13 with friends in Canada, and started playing duplicate bridge in the 80s. She was a Coronado Realtor, President of the Republican Party for two years, and Vice President for two years. She rented store fronts during elections to sell things to promote the party. She continued to play bridge until she was almost 100, but continued to play Rummikub with her neighbors and friends until 103.

Ethel loved good nutritional food and enjoyed cooking over the years. She states her husband, Tommy, always said “an egg is a beautiful thing.” She also mentioned before he died he told her “I love you and I always have.” Ethel was a swimmer, going to the Naval Amphibious Base to swim. She walked around the block a.m. and p.m. for many years, wearing out three Rollators. She had a fitness instructor for eight years working out two times a week, working out for 30 minutes and walking for 30 minutes.

Ethel was an animal lover. She always had a dog. Fritzy and Fanny were two of her favorites and the loves of her life. She even welcomed a stray wild cat into her home, that she became friends with. Ethel liked singing occasionally — Rain in Spain and Princess Papulla, and her favorite Christmas song was Jingle Bell Rock!

She always kidded her friends when they said things were DONE… she would say “only a turkey is done,” and “lie down on the bed… not lay down.”

She always told the Gillingham kids to get married, stay married and buy a house. Ethel always welcomed you into her home to have a seat, have a drink, coke or tea and an offer of See’s Candy, which she always had for herself and her friends, which she loved to eat daily.

Ethel was an inspiration to all that knew her, a great neighbor and friend. She had wonderful friends, among whom were Mary Ann Londay, Jeannette Gillingham, and Nancy Brennan.

We want to thank Dr. Peter Kelly and Sharp Hospice for all their support. A heart felt thank you to all the wonderful caregivers she has had over the years, Ruth Hofmann, Lia Herrara, Alex Rio, and Zulema Avila and her fitness instructor, Kathryn Howry. She will be dearly missed by all.

A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Friday, July 28 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to PAWS of Coronado, 1395 1st street, Coronado, CA 92118.

VOL. 113, NO. 30 - July 26, 2023

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