Dorothy Fulco Keith

Dorothy Keith passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the age of 93 years.

She was in residence at Heritage Manor Stratmore and the family would like to thank them, along with LifePath Hospice for their excellent care.

Dorothy was born during the blizzard of December 2, 1929 at Doctor’s Hospital, originally called North Louisiana Sanitarium, in Shreveport, Louisiana.  It was unsure whether the Model T Ford would make it on the icy streets to the hospital, but it did.

Dorothy was born to Camille Joseph Fulco and Jewel Shook Fulco of Shreveport, and is preceded in death by them, along with husband, Perry Roy Keith.   She is survived by daughters, Susan Elizabeth Keith and Cynthia Jane Keith; son, Christopher Hunt Keith; and brother, Russell Christopher Fulco.

Dorothy grew up in the Italian community in the Allendale neighborhood, surrounded by Fulco relatives, who mostly lived on Buena Vista Street.  She always had cousins in abundance for her playmates, including Dora Fulco D’Anna, Lorraine Fulco Harlan, and Doris Fulco Carstensen, and lifelong special friends, Anna Marie “Sis” Spataro Jackson, Marie Spataro Foley, and LaTrelle Kootz Nicosia.  Her father, along with his brothers and sister, founded Standard Printing Company, which served Shreveport for almost 90 years.

Dorothy attended Fair Park High School and Draughon Business School, after which she worked at the Shreveport Health Unit and then the Bossier Health Unit, until starting her family.

Dorothy met future husband, Perry Keith, while a secretary at the Bossier Health Unit. Their dating consisted of her accompanying him on his “evening beat,” collecting and writing stories for the Shreveport Times, with a stop for a burger at Herby K’s.  After their marriage, in 1953 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, he worked for the Shreveport Journal until its changing of hands, and later for the Physicians and Surgeons Hospital.

Dorothy was always in the company of friends, whether in the NOMA Club (an Italian women’s club whose initials stood for No Old Maids Allowed,) in Senior Friends, in the Fair Park Alumnae, in the friends who ate at the American Legion on Fridays, in her exercise group, her visits to the Friends of a Feather service club, or her frequent attendance at area Mardi Gras events, where she was known as “Mama Keith.” 

Sweet Dorothy will be sorely missed by her numerous family members and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm on Monday, February 13, 2023 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, with a Rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 939 Jordan St., Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Monsignor Earl Provenza . A Celebration of Life will be held after the service. Interment will take place at a later date in Forest Park East Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, Holy Angels Residential Facility, 10450 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, LA 71106 or the charity of the donor’s choice.