Mrs. Mary Ellen "Ellie" Keeton
Library Media Specialist/ Librarian
BS-University of Wisconsin-River Falls
MA-University of New Mexico
Mrs. Keeton grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin where she learned at an early age the importance of faith, family, and friends. Her parents, five sisters, and grandparents all played an important role in her life. Her grandmother, mother, and all of her sisters chose careers as teachers.
She received her BS in English and Library Science and her MA in Library Media Education. She was recruited to come to New Mexico to be a librarian and English teacher at Ruidoso High School in 1969. She began her work at Mescalero Apache School in 2003.
Mrs. Keeton has been involved in many local, state, and national library associations and activities for many years. She has been selected by her former students to appear in Who’s Who Among American Teachers on eight occasions when they were asked to list the teacher who influenced them the most.
Mrs. Keeton met her future husband on the first day she arrived in New Mexico forty years ago. Mr. Keeton (Jerry) received his BS from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and his MA from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He is employed by Barrick Gold of North America at the historic Great Western mine near Bonito Lake.
Mr. and Mrs. Keeton have one daughter, Jeri Ann Noltensmeyer, a nurse at Lincoln County Medical Center. Her husband, Dave Noltensmeyer, is a CRNA at LCMC.
Mr. and Mrs. Keeton love camping, hunting, gardening, exploring the outdoors and, of course, reading. They are especially interested in the literature, music, and history of the West. They are active in their Catholic faith, and always enjoy time with their family and friends.
Contact: mkeeton@mescaleroas.org