Lillian Jean Carson

1926 – 2024

Lillian Jean Carson was born in her family’s home on Roosevelt Street, Oregon city.

Lillian was a treasure full of creativity, intelligence and spunk. She attended Eastham grade school and graduated from Lincoln high school. Her school days being the depression era were challenging. During part of that time, they lived without indoor plumbing. However, she found an escape with music by playing the Violin. Music continued to be a great source of joy for her, ranging from opera to the Beatles.

She married Joe Keller in 1945 and settled in the Mount Tabor neighborhood. There, they raised their three children. Always productive and resourceful, she began a career at the Multnomah County Courthouse. She worked in assessment and taxation as one of the first women to go out in the field collecting taxes.

Her success was her ability to charm just about anyone. Her next chapter started after Joe passed in 1980. Lillian married Kermit Carson in 1983 and moved to the Oregon coast. She began her legacy in this next phase of her life as an award-winning artist. Her membership in the Oregon Watercolor Society was a source of delight and pride as her true artistic life didn’t even start until her 60’s.

She died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Lillian was preceded in death by her parents Elsie and Fred Schambron, her husbands, and siblings Marie Knapp, Louise Wise, Florine Peck and Duane Schambron.

Most dearly departed were her children Mary Weiler, and *Frank Keller. She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Gail and Nick Kreofsky, five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Lillian’s and *Frank’s Celebration of Life and Repast is this Saturday, October 12th, 3 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church 4033 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR. Donations to the food bank may be sent there in lieu of flowers.