Jean Marie Keyes

Jean Marie Keyes was born in St. Louis, Mo.,Jeanette Marie Malkowski on September 27, 1946 passed away January 22, 2026, after suffering a long and difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Jean also known as Jeannie, Mom, Grandma, Aunty, and best friend to many, is survived by her: husband Ted Keyes, brother Joseph Malkowski, sister in law Debbie Malkowski, daughter Kimberly Leeds, son Bryan Bixler, son-in-law Clay Leeds, grandsons Jeremy "Logan" Leeds, Elliott "Eli" Mason Leeds, her brother and sister-in-law Jason and Clarissa Keyes, lifelong friends Dot Korte and Susan Bach, and many other friends and family.

Jean and her brother Joe were both raised by her World War II survivor parents Joseph and Dorothy Malkowski who put resiliency and family first. As a result, she and Joe grew up with a large family around all the time and they learned the "Can Do!" attitude. They had a club house on the West Alton Lake where Jean and the rest of her family relations water skied, fished, canoed, and boated on the Mississippi.

Jean married Charles Joseph "Butch" Bixler, and was a Mom at the young age of 20. She moved away from her family and friends to support her first husband's career to Fallston, Maryland where she was a loving mom and wife, gardener, creative artist, smart civic and community leader, seamstress, talented cook, cozy homemaker, bookkeeper and family accountant, handyman, etc. There she made a fun and engaging home for her thriving children. First and foremost Jean was a devoted Mom. Later, following her partner's career, her family then had the opportunity to move to California where they lived in Irvine and then later built a beautiful home in Laguna Beach and Jean became a "Victoria Beach Babe." Jean worked for an architect and later earned her Real Estate License. She became a successful real estate agent and broker in Laguna Beach.

After divorcing her first husband, Jean traveled the world with friends. In 1984, Jean met her soul mate, life partner, and husband for life, Edward "Ted" McAfee Keyes working for a local television channel. She traveled extensively with Ted, living out of a VW Combi Van in Australia for months at a time, sailing the oceans of the world, visiting our nation's amazing parklands, exploring Roman and Greek ruins, enjoying pubs of Britain and beaches of Tahiti, Hawaii, and Mexico. An avid skier, she and her husband wintered in Steamboat, CO. and later moved their primary residence to Park City, Utah.

Jean was at the heart of the family, coordinating, nurturing, and connecting everyone to each other. Family and friends were the center of her being. When things were not well with her loved ones, Jean was affected deeply. She was a task master, intelligent, creative, resilient, hard working, and welcoming. She was a zany and fun party and trip planner. Most of all she was down to earth, honest and authentic. There really wasn't anything Jean couldn't do when she set her mind to do it. She made life fun and comfortable. She is missed immensely.

Jean's Celebration of Life will take place on April 2, 2026.
Please contact the family for more information. kbeat@mac.com