Betty Lee McKeever

June 25, 1922 – April 28, 2025

A long-time Palisadian and proud member of the Cherokee Nation passed away peacefully on Monday, April 28.

Betty Lee McKeever, who was 102 years old, had lived in the Palisades with her family since 1961. She was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma, in 1922, the youngest of six children. She was 100% Native American.

She attended Bacone College and graduated with a business degree, and worked for the FBI in her early years. In 1953 she married Thomas “Mac” McKeever and they had three daughters. In 1961 he was transferred by McDonnell Douglas from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to work in Santa Monica, California. They settled in Pacific Palisades and raised their family there.

Betty was an active member in the Palisades helping at Palisades Elementary in the PTA and became secretary of her beloved church, Calvary Church of Pacific Palisades. She retired in 1987, and she and Mac traveled around the U.S.

After Mac died in 1999 she continued to travel with family and friends. She enjoyed sewing and tending her garden and was always doing something “crafty.” Even in her final months of life she was sewing dresses for children of the Lakota and Sioux Nation to be sent to them.

Tragically her cherished home in the Palisades, which over the years hosted so many people and events, particularly the annual July 4 celebration, was lost in the January 7 fires. But her spirit lives on in her family. Betty is survived by three daughters: Patty Naff (Rick), Janis Hatch (Brooks) and Sharon Favia (Marc, deceased), three granddaughters and their spouses, four great-grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren.

She was very proud of her Native American heritage and promoted it whenever she could. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cherokee Nation can be made in her name or the family requests that you make a donation to your favorite charity in her name.

A Celebration of Life Service will be planned for sometime later in the year. For further inquiries contact Patty Naff at naffpatty@gmail.com.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” – Psalm 116:15