Geraldine Rose Keylor Piatt, 93, of Woodsfield, died Monday, May 8, 2023, at Liza’s Place, Valley Hospice Care Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Born on Nov. 6, 1929, she was the youngest daughter of Frederick C. and Clara E. (Drum) Keylor, of Woodsfield. She spent her early years living on the southern end of town and was revered by everyone that knew her as “The Queen of Boxtown”.
“Jerry” was proud to serve her community in the 1970s as a Deputy for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office where she split her time between the Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Courthouse. She retired as a Monroe County worker after serving the residents of the Monroe County Care Center until 1999. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 5303. She was patriotic and extremely proud to have four brothers, four children, one daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild serve our country in the Armed Forces. She was widowed at 33 years old and raised six children on her own, relying on the help of her eldest daughter, Elva Norene (Henthorn) Ewers, who was only 15 at the time.
She was preceded in death by her eldest son, Timothy Dwane Morton; two grandchildren, Jamie Ewers and Cody Jackson; her first husband, Kenneth D. Henthorn; her second husband, Duane L. Morton; and her third husband, Howard L. Piatt, whom she married later in life after her children were raised.
Geraldine is survived by her children, Elva Norene Ewers, Reginald Morton and Deanna (Mark) Miller, of Woodsfield, Jeffrey Morton, of Bethlehem, West Virginia, and Sally Parrino, of Seattle, Washington; her daughter-in-law, Carol Morton, of Oviedo, Florida; and her sisters-in-law, Isabel Starr, of Lore City, and Judy Morton, of Woodsfield.
Known as “Mammaw” or “Granny” by her 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren, she will be dearly remembered for her strong will, loving heart, and unapologetic sense of humor. She was a woman who loved The Lord, her hometown, her husband, Howard, and Chantilly perfume.
Her family plans to celebrate her incredible life with a graveside service at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 15, 2023 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Woodsfield, followed by a dinner and fellowship with Jim Mahoney officiating at the Woodsfield City Park.
