Clara Cecilia Keezer (Neptune) Obituary (1930 - 2016)

Sipayik – Clara Cecilia Keezer, 85, passed away on August 2, 2016 at Calais Regional Hospital surrounded by her family. Clara was born on August 3, 1930 to Jerome and Elizabeth (Lewey) Neptune in Eastport. Clara’s mother and grandmother taught her the art of basketweaving at a young age, after completing her first basket at the age of 8 she flourished. She strayed from traditional baskets and created original designs that earned her recognition by the National Endowment for the Arts who awarded her with the National Heritage Fellowship Award in Washington D.C. in 2002. This Native American tradition has been revitalized and passed on to today’s generations thanks to Clara. In addition to her parents, Clara was predeceased by her husband, Larry Keezer Sr., an infant daughter; granddaughter, Kelly Keezer; four sisters, Theresa Gardiner, Edith Pond, Angela Barnes and Irene Lewey and two brothers, Lewis and John Neptune. Survivors include five sons, Larry Keezer Jr. and his wife Lori, Richard, Jerry, Paul “Rocky” and Kenneth Keezer, all of Pleasant Point; a brother, Peter Neptune of Pleasant Point; seven grandchildren who she adored and loved, Larry Keezer III, Anna, Jimmy, Tommy, Jason, Jeanette and Alta; many great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth, Peter Jr., Francis, Victoria, Lisa, Ronny, Cindy, Debbie, Brenda, Jimmy, Maxwell, William, Sherman, James, Jerry, Edward, Mary, Sylvia, Sandra, Angela, Franny and Tony; special friends, Lizabeth Carr Carroll, Carol Smith Fisher, Theresa Secord, Diane Apt, Howard Gallagher, Alden Hanning and his family, Bobbi Packard, Abigail Goodyear, Jennifer Neptune, Nancy Assante, Meg McGarvey, Linda Eldred and John and Donald Stanley who were like two more son’s to Clara. She also leaves behind her feline companions, Foxy, Grady, Pretty Boy, O.J., Curly, Cuddles, Xena and Tiny. She will be fondly remembered by many. Visitation for Clara will be held 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 3rd at the home of Lori Keezer, Warrior Rd., Pleasant Point until Friday morning. A funeral will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 5th at Beatrice Rafferty School, Pleasant Point, followed by burial at Pleasant Point Tribal Cemetery. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.