Connie Lee Keeney DuFresne passed away peacefully on her birthday, April 10, 2023. She was 89 years old.
She was born in Vancouver, Washington, to Theron Sherman Keeney and Mary Margaret Barr Keeney. She spent her childhood in Vancouver and Portland, Oregon. She moved to her family’s homestead town of Long Creek, Oregon, as a sophomore at Long Creek High School. She graduated from LCHS in 1951 and married George William DuFresne. They lived in Washington and Idaho and started a family with the births of LaFawn…[Bambi] (Bill) Klem and Shawn (Susan) DuFresne.
They moved to Bellevue, Washington, and added Renard DuFresne and Signe DuFresne. That landed them on the front page of the Seattle Times. Home births were not that common, let alone two, in 1958. After the birth of Matthew DuFresne, they moved to Vashon Island in 1961. There they finished their family with the birth of Rhoda DuFresne.
Shortly after that, Connie received her real estate license and went to work for Sea Isla Associates down by the north end ferry dock. She worked there a number of years and then received her broker’s license and went to work for Keywest Realty up in the middle of town.
She retired when she was 57 and traveled the states and internationally. Australia was her favorite destination. She became restless and when she was 70, she followed her passion for cooking as a cook for the nursing home. The residents loved her and she loved making them their favorite foods!
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Signe DuFresene. She is survived by her five children, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, one great nephew, as well as her cousin, Cauline (Bill) Ferguson. She is also remembered fondly by our brother from another mother, Michael (Shannon) Sudduth.
Connie’s loving presence, amazing intellect, and profound ability to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle will be sorely missed by all who knew her. We will be floating her urn at the Kingsbury lagoon on June 24 at 3:00 pm so she may join Signe on her eternal journey. After that we will gather in her backyard for a picnic and stories. All who remember her fondly are invited. Donations in her name may be made to Heifer International.
