Susan Beatty Keyser

Susan Beatty Keyser passed away in Westerville on September 8th, having recently celebrated her 86th birthday. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 25th, 1938 to William and Frances Beatty, who preceded her in passing along with her sister Elizabeth Forg.

A lifelong Westerville resident, Sue attended Westerville High School, graduating in 1956 and from Otterbein College in 1960 with a degree in English.

Sue then embarked on her career as an English teacher at Blendon Middle School and Westerville North High School, retiring in 1992. Some of her greatest joys were the chance meetings with former students, nearly all of whom would fondly remember her fair but firm teaching style; still able to recite the poem she assigned so many years ago. Later, she taught English as a Second Language in Columbus and made lifelong friends that spanned the globe from Kazakhstan to Japan.

Outside of work, Sue's passion included nature and gardening, which she pursued with a second degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University. At home, hundreds of tulips greeted passersby in her front garden every spring, hand-planted every year so she could change the color. Every Summer and Fall, fresh zinnias and vegetables from the back yard.

Thoughtful, intentional, and unassuming, her true gift was friendship. With an innate and natural ability, she was able to connect with people of all ages, ethnicities, and religions. She kept an active social life, hosting or attending book clubs, lunches, and dinners nearly every week. Her passing leaves a hole in the fabric of her vast network of family, friends, and her cherished Hillcrest neighbors that will be impossible to replace and difficult to repair.

Sue is survived by her children, Ted (Leslie) of Dripping Springs, TX and Patrick (Kim) of Loveland, OH, her grandchildren, Amy and Courtney (Patrick and Kim), and Jordan and Davis (Ted and Leslie), her nephews John Forg, Bill Forg, niece Elizabeth Farran Forg, as well as her dear friend Kelli Messick, whom Sue thought of as a daughter, and her family.

A private burial will be held by her family.  A Celebration of Sue’s Life will be held at the Vineyard Columbus Chapel at 11 AM, Saturday, October 12^th.  Park in the North Parking Lot for convenience.  Family and friends are invited to share their stories and honor her legacy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sue's memory with Inniswood Metro Gardens, her favorite Westerville park where she spent many afternoons enjoying the beauty of nature. https://www.inniswood.org/