Obituary of Nora Caroline Keys

Nora Caroline Keys March 22, 1937 – April 30, 2020 Nora Caroline Keys, 83, of Dowagiac, passed away at The Timbers of Cass County on Thursday, April 30, 2020, with her family by her side. Nora was born on March 22, 1937, to the late Thomas and Nancy (O’Daniel) Grayam in Cobden, Illinois. She later married and moved to Michigan where she made her home. While in Dowagiac she began working at Rudy’s Manufacturing (Sunstrand). In Dowagiac, as a single mom, she put all of her energy in to raising her children and working. She retired from Rudy’s after 26 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Nancy Grayam; son, James Keys; brother, Thomas “Sonny” Grayam; grandsons, James C. Keys and Thomas Keys. Nora is survived by her children, Nancy (Don) Swartz of Buchanan, Linda Ross of Cassopolis, Robert Keys of Dowagiac, Renee (Tom) Meiser of Dowagiac, and Patrick Campbell of Connecticut; daughter-in-law Arlene Keys; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Kate Lawrence of South Carolina, Arlene Cole of Florida, Charlene Kehr of South Bend, Donald Grayam of Berrien Springs, and Charles (Sue) Grayam of Arkansas; and many extended family members and close friends. In keeping with Nora’s wishes, no public viewing will be held. She will be interred privately at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles. Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation in Nora's memory may do so to their local women's shelter to help prevent child abuse or to EndCAN.org.