Mariam Gilbert McKeever
December 24, 2010
Mariam McKeever, 83, of West Des Moines, died Friday, December 24, 2010, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. Mariam was well known for her many talents including teaching, directing and acting. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
Mariam was born in Lawrence, Kansas and lived there with her grandparents during the Great Depression years. Her WWII years were spent at high school in Connecticut. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 1955.
In Des Moines, Mariam met her partner and husband of 45 years, Larry A. McKeever. They spent a year in New York City and then, at the invitation of an Australian friend, moved to Sydney where they worked on stage and in TV production. They returned to Des Moines in 1964.
Mariam and Larry were employed by the Des Moines Community Playhouse in the late 1960s, Mariam as the Children's Theater Director and Larry as Technical Director. Both often appeared on the Playhouse stage. They began doing radio and TV commercials and in 1968 opened Des Moines' first professional recording studio and talent agency, Lariam Associates, Inc., at 515 28th Street.
Mariam will also be remembered as co-owner and producer of over 110 shows at Des Moines' first successful dinner theater, Charlie's Showplace. While the McKeevers were operating their recording studio, they were asked to produce a play for a "new" entertainment idea - dinner combined with a show. After three sold out shows, the McKeevers decided to investigate the market to open a full-time theater of their own. The result was Charlie's Showplace which opened in the remodeled original Orthodox Synagogue at 5th and University on September 26, 1973. A professional acting company and staff offered 5 to 8 dinners and shows a week until December 31, 1984. Mariam was producer/director/manager and Larry was genial host/technical director/wine steward. Both acted in many of the shows.
In 1978 Mariam was honored to be the first woman to receive the Iowa Small Business Administration Manager of the Year Award for the success with Charlie's Showplace. She traveled to Washington, D.C. for the president's presentation.
When Charlie's Showplace closed, Mariam returned to teaching. She taught social sciences to many lucky students at North High School from 1990 to 2000. In 2008 Mariam moved into the The Lodge on Ashworth Road were she enjoyed friends, playing bridge, reading murder mysteries and watching the changing seasons from her courtyard window.
Mariam's body was cremated. Her ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean along with those of her beloved Larry, who preceded her in death on September 4, 2007. Their influence and accomplishments will be carried in many hearts forever.
Mariam is survived by an extended family of children, grandchildren and friends around the world. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to contribute to Taylor House Hospice.
A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, December 27, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA. Online condolences may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Leo Oxberger
01/05/2011
Larry and Mariam McKeever were very good friends of mine and two of my favorite people in my life. They made the world a better place.
Leo Oxberger
Julie Johnson
12/27/2010
To the family of Mariam.....my sincere condolences to all of you for your loss. I was fortunate to get to know Mariam a little during her stay at Heritage Court. Even though there were days of severe pain, you could always find a smile or a little bit of wit no matter what the circumstance. I know that she is in a better and painfree place now with her husband. My thoughts and prayers to you all.
Julie Johnson, RN
Nurse manager with Heritage Court Assisted Living
Barb Merrill Wagner
12/27/2010
What a great loss!!! I performed with Mariam and Larry in an "Opal" production at the Ingersoll Dinner Theater AND even directed Mariam as "Opal" in a second production at the IDT. What an influence she personally had on me as a woman. We instantly became dear friends and I respected her with all of my heart. She will always be Des Moines' version of "Opal" -- one of her best-known characters from performing. Someday, I plan to continue her "Opal" legacy and play that role in esteem honor of her. I hope I get the chance to do that. She will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her and especially the theater community. What an influence she had on many lives. She will be dearly missed.
Timothy Henry
12/27/2010
I started acting lessons at age 8 with Mariam at the Playhouse. I continued
doing radio/tv commercials at Lariam Assoc. we also packaged brail monitor
records there. I did several shows at Charlies Showplace and worked doing whatever needed to be done. Both Larry and Mariam were a big influence on me and I enjoyed working with them over the years. She will be greatly missed.
Timothy Henry
Barb Sink-Krusenstjerna
12/26/2010
So sorry to hear of Mariams passing. I first met Mariam when daughter Anna invited me to Charlie's Showplace.I remember the evening well even down to where we sat! Obviously had a memorable time that evening in the 70's. Barb Sink-Krusenstjerna, Waukee
Deirdre Moore
12/26/2010
How sad to read of her passing. I will always remember Mariam with great respect and affection.
Deirdre Moore
San Diego, CA
Tom Froehle
12/26/2010
I went to Charlie's Showplace several times and what I remember most besides the entertainment and tasty food was Mariam's and Larry's warmth and friendliness. They were sincere people and I wish I could have known them personally.
Pam Washington
12/25/2010
It's Christmas morning and I'm reading the paper when I noticed this obituary. I didn't know Mariam but I worked with Larry McKeever at WHO Radio in the late 1980's. I was the Assistant to the General Manager, Steve Shannon. What a fabulous guy! My condolenses to you and your family. It's a blessing to be able to celebrate the life of well lived, which is what I saw from Larry. Memories will keep Larry and Mariam alive in your hearts and can be enjoyed by others that are in your lives now and in the future.
Merry Christmas, Pam Washington
Marcia Swinney-Shay and Paul Shay
12/25/2010
We were so sorry to hear of Mariam's passing. Des Moines lost a very dynamic woman. She had a very dramatic impact on our lives--as she did on so many. Please accept our heartfelt condolences, and our sincere regrets that we won't be able to attend the memorial on Monday. Know that our hearts are grieving with you.
Marcia and Paul
Lynn Jacobson
12/25/2010
I am so sorry for your family loss. I worked for Larry and Mariam as office manager at Lariam's and moved to Charlie's Showplace when they opened it. Mariam and I were in contact off and on via email. She was a special person.