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| In Memoriam |
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Portsmouth - Grace Norma Brescia Keesecker, 78, a retired Henrico County teacher, died July 13, 2013. Mrs. Keesecker was a 1953 graduate of Cradock High School in Portsmouth, Va. She earned a degree in elementary education from Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University, in 1967, and a master's degree in diagnostic prescriptive teaching from William & Mary College in 1973. She taught first grade at Dunbarton Elementary School and Crestview Elementary School, until 1973. Following earning her M.Ed., she was placed at Montross Elementary, where she was instrumental in establishing one of the first special education programs for Henrico County. After a year at Montross, she transferred to Byrd Middle School, where she continued her work in special education. While at Byrd, she served as faculty advisor for the Student Council and yearbook. In 1986, she returned to the regular classroom, where she taught English and Social Studies until her retirement in 1992. Her professional affiliations included the Orton Society, Council for Exceptional Children, Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, Society for Special Education Teachers, Richmond Area Association for Behavioral Therapy, International Reading Association and Henrico County HIstorical Society. An avid sportswoman all her life, she rode horses at Walden Pond Stables and was a member of the Richmond Fencing Society. A native of the former Norfolk County, Virginia community of Cradock, Mrs. Keesecker was married to Gary R. Keesecker for 59 years. She is survived by her husband; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard Martin and Susan Mitchell Keesecker of Frisco, Texas, and Kevin Glenn and Stacy Schurz Keesecker of Glen Allen, Va.; four grandchildren, Brett Michael Keesecker, Kimberly Lauren Keesecker, Annika Grace Keesecker and Ethan Mitchell Keesecker. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 to 8
p.m. at Bliley's -Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Rd., where a funeral service will be held Wednesday 2 p.m. Interment to follow at Westhampton Memorial Park. |
