Allison Jo Keim

Allison was born in Waterloo, Iowa January 27, 1989, a blessing to her parents Laurie and Chuck. Allison began that day to take them on a journey filled with love, faith and possibility. She would surround them with her quirky collection—friends of all ages and backgrounds, from across the country and around the world. She would introduce her parents to a world where anything is possible. Allison loved her family enthusiastically, they adored her back. She was a bright-eyed bundle of curiosity who wanted to travel and learn all about everyone she met. She refused to let distance disconnect her from family and friends. Childhood was full of imaginary play, friends, sleepovers, visits to the public pool and cruising around her yard in a golf cart. She collected ladybugs. Music came easily to young Allison who studied piano for many years and later added violin to her skillset. She sang in chorus. After trying gymnastics,track and basketball, Allison chose golf, a sport she played
for Cedar Falls High School and enjoyed with her dad, reportedly beating him on occasion. During her Cedar Falls High School and University of Northern Iowa years, Allison created a web of friendship, opening her heart and her door to folks of all ages, ethnicities, education levels and interests. She juggled several jobs all the while attending school & maintaining excellent grades.... Carlos O Kelly’s Mexican Restaurant as a hostess & waitress, receptionist at both a Massage Therapy and Tanning Salon, Anheuser-Busch promotional marketing, and at a couple of local golf courses. Allison welcomed challenge, accepting a position caring for disabled clients, accompanying them on outings in her community and also bringing them to church with her. Every job she ever applied for, she got. Managers who hired Allison for her many jobs gained an outstanding worker and a loyal advocate for their businesses. She formed relationships with every client who walked through the door, getting to know them as important individuals, for that is what Allison does.
Orchard Hill Church, in Cedar Falls Iowa, was Allison’s home church, the center of faith that grounded the Morrises until Allison, her Speech-Language Pathology master’s degree in hand, moved to Arizona in 2013 to begin her professional life. Her parents joined her there 1 year later after their retirement. Allison launched her career as a speech therapist and met her husband-to-be at Sandbar when a friend pushed Spencer Keim to ask a stunning brown-eyed girl across the room to dance. One year later, Spencer, on his knee, presented the ring in a tray of coffee beans at one of her many favorite coffee shops, as family and friends hid in the wings. An engagement day photo shows a beaming couple holding hands, leaping for joy, Cortez Coffee Academy and Roastery in the background. Allison and Spencer celebrated their engagement with Iowa friends and family, and they were married October 2, 2016 in a fairy tale ceremony at Whispering Tree Ranch. Family, friends and joy centered the celebration, just as Allison had planned. Spencer was the Yin to Allison’s Yang, embracing her unique style and circle of go-to-coffee friends. He mimicked her positive outlook by joining her for cappuccino art lessons. They settled into a happy, homey newlywed routine. Two short months after their marriage, on Dec. 8th, 2016 Allison suffered a massive brain aneurysm, but she denied all odds, bravely earning back her life one step at a time. By March, 2017, she and Spencer celebrated with a baptismal ceremony at Sun Valley Church, and she rejoiced with family over a delayed Christmas dinner. She embarked on a tough rehab program at Barrow Neurological Institute and surprised everyone, including her medical team, with hard-earned progress. She returned to the golf course! Allison was approaching full recovery when a second aneurysm took her from us June 2, 2017. Her generosity prevailed as she donated vital organs so that others might have a second chance. Her kidneys were donated in honor of her Aunt “TaTa." Anyone who met Allison Jo (Morris) Keim received a warm blessing steeped in positive energy. “Her curiosity and friendliness are infectious,” said a lifelong friend. “Allison wants the best for everyone and will encourage you to go for it. With her, the glass is always half-full. She never met a person she didn’t want to know more about.” (Over a cup of coffee, of course). If you were lucky enough to become her friend—and there are thousands of us—you continue to be blessed and inhabited by Allison’s bright spirit. You remember her brilliant smile. Allison’s time on earth was meaningful and brief, but we can keep her legacy of acceptance and encouragement alive beyond her earthly years by accepting and encouraging others as she did us. Allison lived life abundantly, as we are asked to do.
“. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full . . .” John 10:10 NIV

A Celebration of Allison's life will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Sun Valley Community Church, 6101 South River Drive, Tempe, Arizona. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions in Allison's name be made to her family. Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the family.

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Celebration of Life

Sun Valley Community Church

Saturday June 17th, 2017

11:00am

Tempe, AZ