WAE stewardess Margaret Gillette Keating, widow of PNA/WAL Capt. Maury Keating

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

WAE stewardess Margaret Gillette Keating, widow of PNA/WAL Capt. Maury Keating

March 17, 1918 ~ July 22, 2022

 

Notice of passing….Margaret’s obituary information is available online at these links:

https://www.mi-reporter.com/obituaries/margaret-keating-obituary/ 

https://obituaries.seattletimes.com/obituary/margaret-keating-1085778855

 

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

Obituary : Margaret Patricia Mercedes Gillette was born on St. Patrick's Day, 1918, in Butte Montana, where her father, Leon, was a forest ranger.

The youngest of seven children, Margaret grew up riding, fishing, and working on the family farm. After high school, Margaret attended nursing school at Providence St. Patrick's Hospital. After achieving her R.N. degree, Margaret was recruited by Western Air Express, as one of the first "air hostesses" in the U.S. Based in Salt Lake City, Margaret's first aircraft was the Boeing 247. This ten-seater was the fastest and most modern passenger plane in the country. The B 247 was soon eclipsed by the DC 3. In addition to maintaining health and safety standards in the cabin, Margaret also served gourmet meals, and made up 14 berths for overnight flights. On a ground stop in Salt Lake City, Margaret met her future husband, Maury Keating. When the U.S. entered WW II, the couple married and moved to San Diego, where Maury flew for the Air Transport Command in and out of the Pacific. After the war ended, the Keatings moved to Anchorage, Alaska with their two young sons, and Maury was hired by Pacific Northern Airlines as chief pilot. The Keatings' adventure in Alaska was challenging. Two daughters were born there, Margaret spending many long cold nights waiting for Maury to return safely since they had no phone service. In 1951, Margaret and Maury were transferred to Seattle, settling on Mercer Island. A third son was born, and so most of Margaret's time was spent with her five lively children. She gardened, volunteered, and had many dear friends. After all the Keating children graduated from high school, another adventure awaited. Margaret and Maury moved to Honolulu so that Maury could finish his flying career as a DC 10 captain. After retirement the Keatings were able to travel extensively using their airline passes. When Maury died in 2008, Margaret moved to Aljoya on Mercer Island, where many friends lived, and she enjoyed making new friends as well. Margaret's unfailing optimism helped her through the challenging times that growing old can bring, and not a day went by without her saying "I am one lucky woman!" As she passed her 100th birthday, she constantly expressed her gratitude for everyone in her life: Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, her prayer group friends of fifty years, the wonderful caregivers from the Wellness Center, and countless friends. Margaret's cheery voice and positivity was an inspiration to everyone she met. Margaret's long and remarkable life was a shining example of a life well lived.

Margaret was preceded in death by Maury, and sons Dennis and Michael. She is survived by son Don Keating(Lori) daughters Janet Campbell(Duncan) and Margaret Ose (Gregg), grandchildren Matt, Kelsey, Michael, Jeff, Craig, Ryan, Amanda, Alex, Jordan and Patrick, and seventeen great grandchildren. There will be a family memorial service.

You may sign Margaret's online Guest Book at obituaries.seattletimes.com

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https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/seattletimes/name/maurice-keating-obituary?id=28710811

MAURICE KEATING

Born: March 15, 1917

Died: November 13, 2008

Captain Maurice KEATING passed away Thursday Nov 13th at the age of 91. Inspired by Charles Lindberg, Maury's interest in aviation began at an early age. He spent his youth in Salt Lake City, where his father was in the seed business. Maurice Keating Sr. often took his two young sons, Bill and Maury, to the airfield to watch airplanes land and take off. After graduating from East High in Salt Lake, Maury enrolled at USC in Los Angeles majoring in business. While at USC he was hired by United Airlines as a passenger agent and was sent to Salt Lake City, where he was able to complete his degree at the University of Utah, work for UAL, learn to fly, and ski when time permitted. It was on a ski date that he fell in love with Margaret Gillette, a registered nurse and one of the first stewardesses for Western Airlines. The couple married in 1941, and Maury became a flight instructor. When World War II began he was hired as a B-24 test pilot for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft. He delivered personnel and supplies to the Pacific Theater throughout the war. After World War II, Maury and Margaret began their family, and soon moved with their two small sons to Anchorage where Maury was captain and chief pilot for Pacific Northern Airlines. Two daughters were born there, and then the family moved to Mercer Island where their third son was born. PNA soon merged with Western Airlines, and it was with Western that Maury concluded his commercial career, flying the DC 10 between Seattle and Honolulu. Approaching 60, Maury decided to enter the Honolulu Marathon, beginning a phase of marathon running. He completed three marathons between the ages of 60-65. After reluctantly retiring from Western at the mandatory age of 60, Maury joined a group of pilots challenging the Age 60 rule. This ruling finally changed in 2007, allowing commercial airline pilots to fly until age 65. During this time Maury enjoyed flying as a corporate pilot for the construction firm Howard S. Wright. He further challenged himself by flying for the air ambulance service, Airlift Northwest, from which he retired at age 75. After retirement, the Keatings spent many wonderful years traveling between Mercer Island and Honolulu. Their biggest life challenge was losing their oldest son Dennis at the age of 46. In spite of this sadness, Maury enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a volunteer driver for senior services, a charter member of the Museum of Flight, played tennis with a group at the Seattle Tennis Center until the age of 85, and played golf until he was 89. He and Margaret had many wonderful friends and spent quality time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Maury counted his blessings every day, had a kind word for everyone he met, and never complained about his troubles. He never avoided a challenge, was generous to a fault, had high expectations for himself at all times, and adored and appreciated his best friend, Margaret. Maury's spirit will live on in the many people that he touched in his long lifetime. Maury was preceeded in death by his mother Grace, his father Maurice, his sister Barbara, and his eldest son, Dennis. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret, His brothers William (Billie) and Jack (Libby), his children Don (Lori), Janet Campbell (Duncan), Margie Ose (Gregg) and Michael, grandchildren, Matt, Jeff, Craig, Mike, Kelsey, Jordan, Ryan, Amanda, Alex, and Patrick, and great-grandchildren Sydney, Blake, Lauren, Ava, Will, Keaton, Coltan, Adam, and Luke, and many adoring nieces and nephews. We will all miss Maury's charm, fun-loving nature, courage and faith.