Carthage - Violet Agnes Keefer, 75, died Tuesday, August 14, 2012, in the Skilled Nursing Unit of the Carthage Area Hospital where she has resided since November.

Mrs. Keefer was born in West Carthage on January 9, 1937, the daughter of the late William and Blanche Brown Moroughan. She attended schools in Carthage and West Carthage. A marriage to Kenneth R. Keefer ended in divorce and her long time companion, Nelson Kempney, is predeceased. Agnes worked as a bartender at the American Legion and VFW in Carthage for many years.

She loved collecting hummingbirds.


She was a member of both the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries.

She is survived by three daughters and their husbands: Diane M. and Allan Toepfer of Pensacola, FL, Penny S. and Matthew Cadwell of Constantia and Lisa A. and Peter Leubner of Dexter, four sons: Daniel L. Keefer of Lowville, Robert D. and Maryann Keefer of Watertown, Randy G. Keefer of West Carthage and Kenneth M. and Susanna Keefer of Johnson, VT, 9 Grandchildren, 3 Great Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. An infant daughter, Leonora Sally Keefer, 4 brothers, Emerton, James, William and Peter Moroughan and 3 sisters, Georgia Smith, Mary Jane Coman and Dolores Ferguson are predeceased.


Funeral services will be held on Friday at 12:00 PM at the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home with Rev. George F. Maroun officiating. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Thursday from 4-7pm.