In Memory Of

George and Martha Mae Keene

Martha “Qerrataralria” Keene has inspired many people in her life, which included me. She lived by the motto, “God first, others second, and me last,” which is a difficult saying to follow, but it seemed to come naturally for her. She has motivated every person that had a chance to meet her while she was living. Three specific ways that she motivated every one was with her music, church preservation, and her kindness.

Martha was quite the musical one, always singing for people that came from all around the world. Her love for music was shown to others in many ways. She sung songs to entertain audiences or to cheer them up. She touched many people with her musical talent, since she was well known for her gospel singing all over the Delta. While at home with nothing to do, Martha would be in her room recording music with her karaoke system and playing the piano or guitar. The tapes she made would be for sale at the Bethel Moravian Book Store in Bethel. Even if they were being sold she would give leftover tapes to her friends that loved her singing. I remember all those times she was singing in the church. She would sing songs that fit the mood of the day. Her singing would really brighten up everyone’s day.

Martha was really enthused about attending every church service. Every Saturday or Sunday she would announce on the VHF that there would be a church service in the evening. Many times she would be one of the few that went to church. That did not stop her from conducting the service though. Preaching about the Lord and teaching about Him was a thing she would not complain about. Martha would talk to people and children about Our Father. Even though they might forget, she reminded people to pray and attend church. Now that she is gone, my father, Charlie Isaac, picked up where she left off. Following in her footsteps, he conducts the service every Sunday, preaching and informing everyone about the Lord we serve today. I truly believe she gave everyone a good reason to attend church.

Kindness was a big part of whom Martha was, she always had enough kindness for people that came to visit her, even the strangers. Her hospitality stretched out, opening her home to visitors that came from Paris, Hooper Bay, Lower 48s, and Japan. There was always a place to stay for those that came to Kasigluk for an event. Love for her family was also a huge reason for her kindness. Martha was married to George Keene Sr. on August 8, 1940. Together they raised nine of their children. Unfortunately five out of 14 children did not survive. She loved each and every one of them. No matter how they treated her she still guided them in the direction she was taught to follow, “God first, others second, and me last.” Her love was felt by everyone around her. It made each person feel special. No matter if you were from a different race or religion. She cared for everyone as if they were her own. That’s how much her kindness was shown to others throughout her life.

As you read this passage about Martha you can see that she was well known for her music, her church devotion, and kindness to people. I see it as hard to do, but if it were made possible by Martha, it is possible for anyone to show these characteristics. I am trying to follow the path that she took; I know it is hard to do but I would rather die trying than to give up. When I come to think about her life, I would rather set it as an example for me to choose the right path in life, just like my own personal guide line. Martha lived an awfully great adventure, life.

Compact Disc- Matthew 24

George Ingall'ak Keene Sr.

George as my family knows it was all about heart. No matter who discriminated against his religion or his family he still loved them. He knew the real meaning of love. Another big personality that everyone enjoyed of him was the fight in him. No matter what overcame him he did not give up in life.

He was diagnosed with a terminal illness called Kidney Failure. This as we all know took away our light. Feeling sorry for him was not an option for there was nothing we could do. Doctors gave him no more than a year to be with us. Although George proved them wrong. Showing the doctors it would definitely take more than a terminal illness to enjoy his time here on earth with his family. He fought the illness for about 8 years. With the help of his family members he was able to fight for life for so many years. In results of going through excruciating pain that no one would ever think of going enduring.

He was taken care of by his children with big help from his youngest son George Keene Jr. A really big thank you to my uncle for keeping dad, apii, and most sincere amau with us for as long as he did. George Jr. isn't the only one that took care of him, he had help from his nieces and nephews and his brother Victor Keene. Rose Nicholas, Cherie Isaac, and Arnold Brink Sr. were also a really big relief team for George Jr. Thank you for keeping him with us, giving his greatgrandchildren and grandchildren a lot more time to get to know his loving heart with his tender touch and stimulating humor.

There was a lot of bad times for us...his family. But his presence was felt everyday, no matter how he was feeling at the time. I always feel so lucky to be around a family like this. It really is a feeling, something you can really feel no matter if you know this family or not. Their love for each other may not always show but you can really see that they love each other dearly with their actions.

This family is a family to know. Just read what i have posted here and see that this family misses their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents dearly.

Life Without Their Love

In the year of 2004, my family and I were in total shock with the loss of our Mom/Dad, Grandmother/Grandfather, and Great-Grandparents in a matter of months. Not knowing we were going to lose both of them instantly has put us in shock. Grieving for one, then 105 days after grieving for the other has not been one of those experiences you would want to go through. With this experience I am able to tell you some of the effects that will be stowed upon you in the long run. Although their deaths were caused by terminal illnesses there was nothing we could possibly do about them but make their last days in life as memorable as possible.

Two different kinds of terminal illnesses were diagnosed in their bodies. With my grandmother she had cancer, and was the fortunate one to go ahead of her husband. As for my grandfather he was diagnosed with kidney failure in the year of 1997. During my grandfather’s hard time, dealing with the fact that doctors had told us at his age he wouldn’t last a year on dialysis. Years had passed, still no sign of him getting weak. In the year of 2004 eight years after being diagnosed with the illness, he lost his wife in August. She was diagnosed with cancer for a number of years without knowing it. After going to ANMC in Anchorage in July our family did not know how long she would be gone from home. A month had gone by, still no hope in her returning home due to her health status. She went though an amount of surgery trying to increase her time to be with us. Doctors gave her no more than six months to live. So she wanted to go to Bethel, saying it was closer to home and her family. When she arrived she seemed to get worse. Entering her third day in Bethel the cancer had finally taken control of her whole body. She left us in the morning, with a painful death, but she didn’t make any moans or any sign of pain as she left. That was a miracle.

George after knowing she had gone had no point in living no more. After all those years of fighting his illness he had seemed to give up, trying to leave us also as soon as he could. On the weekend of Thanksgiving I returned home, I was the one that was watching him for the night. Making sure he is doing ok, and sleeping well. It was thanksgiving morning. Around 7:15 a.m. I had not noticed he stopped breathing, having no idea how long he wasn’t breathing, I went into the state of shock. So I went to go wake up my uncle and told him that he isn’t breathing; that was one of the phrases I thought I wouldn’t have to say in my life. One experience me and my family didn’t like one bit. Although it happened we have got to accept it and be proud both are in heaven looking down on us.

The effects of their deaths left many problems we have to face on our paths to life. One of the biggest one we had to overcome is Recovering. Although all of us did not recover from their deaths we are still trying our best to move on in our lives, setting their life choices as an example for us, putting God First, Others Second, and me last. I have notice most family members have also gone through personality changes. Anger is a big change in personality for my uncle and brother the closest that lived with my grandfather, have gotten more short-tempered. With others I have noticed loneliness in their lives, also sorrow. It is a hard turning point in our lives. Though we all knew we would have to face it one day. So a lot of effects taken place, just glad they aren’t turning into serious problems for my family.

This event is one of the events I will definitely remember throughout my life. Nothing like this will ever happen to me in many years to come. Experiencing terminal illnesses in the family is not a fun thing to go through. Although they aren’t suffering anymore I still miss them and wonder why they had to go. We all are slowly realizing that we cannot take people for granted for got can take them at anytime he needs them. So live life to the fullest. Don’t let anything get you sidetracked off life's road. For if that happens it will be hard to get back on the path of life. The two grandparents that passed on were the closest one’s I have lived with. It is tough for my family and I to recover but slowly getting over it. Life is great, just learn to appreciate it.

April 30, 1918- November 25, 2004






















May 24, 1929- August 13, 2004



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