Read Cynthia Rose Keeton's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Cynthia Rose Keeton

Bushnell, FL

April 11, 1959 - December 19, 2019

Apr 11, 1959 - Dec 19, 2019

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Cynthia Rose Keeton, age 60, passed away at her home in central Florida on December 19, 2019. She was born in 1959 in South Carolina, the youngest of four children. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a financial consultant. Cynthia attended Trinity Lutheran Day School. She loved music and played the piano. During her teens and into her 20s, she worked for her father’s business as an accountant and consultant. At age 21, she bought and restored a house in a historic section of the town and hosted many parties and gatherings at her graceful home.

Cynthia had a life-long love of the ocean, sparked during childhood by the family’s annual vacations at Hunting Island, SC, a place she continued to visit and enjoy all her life. At age 27, Cynthia moved to the Caribbean, where she lived for 23 years, sailing and maintaining her beloved sailboat, managing properties, working as a private chef, and writing a blog about life in the islands, through which she was known as “the most popular correspondent of the Caribbean.” During that time, she also published a cookbook, Fine Fare with Flair, and a collection of humorous stories based on her island adventures, titled Hurricanes and Hangovers and other tall tales and loose lies from the coconut telegraph.

After moving back to the mainland in 2009, Cynthia traveled the US in a motorhome, continuing her writings and a successful blog, Adventures with Miss Mermaid, which she published almost daily from 2009 through 2019. Her skill with keen observations and cheeky humor made her blog very popular. Many people subscribed and looked forward each day to Miss Mermaid's posts.

A few years ago, Cynthia settled in a small home beneath a grove of live oaks in central Florida. She enjoyed cooking, being with friends, riding her bike, and caring for her little dog Harley and her big patio garden—while still writing daily, even as her health declined.

Cynthia will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends. She is survived by her oldest brother and wife (Steve and Barbara); her older sister and husband (Linda and Jack); two nieces and a nephew (Laura, Nani, and Michael); as well as grand-nieces, numerous cousins, and her beloved Aunt Nellie. She is predeceased by her brother Donovan, her nephew Adam, and her parents.

Cynthia loved people, and people loved her. She had many wonderful friends near and far. The family wishes to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to all who loved Cynthia: Don L. for his loving care for the past 26 years; Tyrone T. for his loving support these past 2 years; the Weber family for lifelong friendship; Joanie, Susan, Melody, and others in the community for their loving kindness toward Cynthia; and Cynthia’s devoted readers and friends everywhere—Florida, the Caribbean, the Carolinas, and many other places far-flung.

Cynthia loved animals and cared for a collection of delightful cats for many years. She especially cherished her long-time companion, her beloved rescued dog, Harley. Cynthia also had great love for wildlife and nature. She traveled all over the world, visiting places of natural beauty, including the seas and oceans and national and state parks. For this reason, in honor of Cynthia, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any nonprofit charity that benefits animals or nature, such as the Best Friends Animal Society, the Nature Conservancy, the Coral Reef Alliance, the World Wildlife Fund, the Arbor Day Foundation, etc.

A memorial celebration for friends and family of Cynthia will be held in central Florida on January 29, 2020 at 5:30 PM. If you wish to attend, please click "attending" at "Funeral details" and then click the "RSVP" button. We will contact you via email with details. Thank you so much.

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