Mary Keller (Deeble) Fitzgibbons, 83, passed away December 31 at her home at Brookdale of Carmel, in Carmel Indiana.

Mary was born in Paden City, West Virginia and moved to California during WWII when her father served as a medical doctor in the Pacific theatre. She returned to Belpre, Ohio where she graduated from Belpre High School. She also graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio University. As a member of Daughters of the American Revolution she enjoyed history and genealogy.

She married Wayne Deeble in 1954, settled in Columbus, Ohio and raised their daughters Karen and Kathy. As her daughters got older, Mary returned to work as a medical technologist in Lancaster, Ohio and later at Mt. Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Always furthering her education, Mary got an accounting degree, studied French, and began watercolor painting.

In 1984, she met David Fitzgibbons on a blind date arranged by her niece Sherry Houston. They were married in 1985. They lived and worked in the Pittsburgh area. Ultimately, she retired with David to Sarasota, Florida, which was a place she loved and spent many vacations. There, she continued her career with the Sarasota Blood Bank, enjoyed walks on the beach and entertaining family and friends. She even wrote a book about her life entitled “7 Houses”.

Mary will be remembered for her love of anything Sound Of Music, singing and dancing to big band music, tending to all of her gardens, the color yellow, gin rummy, crossword puzzles, sand trees on the beach, cats, baking her famous chocolate chip and spritz cookies, and as she would say,” lets get real, anything chocolate”.

Mary is survived by daughters, Kathryn O’Connell (Mark), and Karen Hendrix (Keith), grandchildren Amy Lee (Peter), Aaron O’Connell, Abby Albright (Adam), Anna O’Connell, Kyle Hendrix, great grandchildren Harper, Margaret and Evelyn Lee, sisters Jane Houston and Pat Martin, and brother-in-law Gordon Warnes. Also surviving are stepson Wyatt Fitzgibbons (Sandra), step grandchildren, David Fitzgibbons, Steven (Heather) Fitzgibbons, Ricky Fitzgibbons, and Robert Fitzgibbons, step great grandchildren Dustin and Carly Fitzgibbons, Ernest (Loretta) Fitzgibbons, Faith Mitchell (Jim), Analee Fitzgibbons and many nieces and nephews She is preceded in death by her parents Dr. Fred and Clarice Keller, husbands David Fitzgibbons and Wayne Deeble, sister Susan Warnes, and great grandchildren Jack and Nora Lee, brother-in-law Charles Fitzgibbons, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Helen Fitzgibbons.

The family is grateful to so many who lovingly helped her enjoy her final chapter in Indiana, especially LaRosa, Nae Nae and Quentina and all the staff at Brookdale of Carmel, and Mario and Lynn at The Barrington of Carmel. Special gratitude and thanks to Laurie Owens, Janette Garner and Marnie Sloan. Mary loved you three like family.

We will celebrate Mary’s life on February 20, 2016 in Belpre, Ohio at Leavitts Funeral Home beginning at 12:30 pm, followed by a luncheon. Wear a touch of yellow in her honor. On February 21, 2016 we will have a second service in Pittsburgh at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery at 2pm followed by a luncheon. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to The Daughters of the American Revolution or The Alzheimer’s Association.