patsy keever
stepping up and making a difference

by melissa stanz

One of Patsy Keever’s earliest childhood memories is seeing a photo of her parents and her two older sisters smiling for the camera as they stood in Duke University’s gardens. She remembers wondering why she wasn’t in that picture. That sense of wondering fueled her desire to be part of the picture—it helped her decide to attend Duke University (which she did, graduating with a degree in education), and it’s become a metaphor for her life. She has a driving passion for being in the picture, for helping others, for being part of the solution.

Patsy, age 56, is a spirited, multi-faceted woman. A mom, grandmother, teacher, friend, Buncombe County Commissioner, and Board member for several community organizations, she relishes all her roles and is grateful for the learning experiences they bring. This year, she’s gearing up for a new role—Patsy is running for Congress, the 11th Congressional District seat, a Democrat running against incumbent Charles Taylor.
This is no small task, but Patsy is crystal clear about her goal. “This past summer I was contemplating running for Buncombe County Commission Chair, when this just hit me out of the blue. I realized I could step up and make a difference. It’s no longer a question for me, I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” she explained.

Her certainty about running for Congress stems from her many life experiences. Her parents taught her the value of hard work, honor, and civic duty. A native North Carolinian, she grew up in Charlotte, the youngest of three girls. Her mom and sisters were her role models, along with Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy. She remembers her mom, an educator, working with the League of Women Voters. This civic volunteerism inspired Patsy to get involved in the voter process early on. (Patsy is past president of Buncombe’s League of Women Voters.) She also credits her mom for instilling confidence in her. “She always told me and my sisters we could do anything, so I just grew up with that. And she not only told us that, she expected us to do it! I also knew I was supposed to give to others.”

She also fondly recalls her father, a civil lawyer, one of the most caring, honorable men she’s ever known. “He taught us the meaning of honor, filled that role, and set high standards,” she said.

Always knowing she would go to college, she decided on Duke at a young age, and graduated with an education degree in 1969. She met Johnny, her late husband, during those years. This was during the Vietnam War, and Johnny enlisted in officer’s school, becoming a first lieutenant, which made Patsy the ranking officer’s wife. Patsy recalls her surprise at being in that role, but she quickly adapted to the white glove etiquette the role required. During his officer’s training, Patsy used her teaching skills to teach soldiers how to read. During the year he spent in Vietnam, Patsy supported herself, living alone with her dog in Charlotte. “I really identify with families who have family members go off to war, and it amazes me how much support families get today. I’m glad we now appreciate our military members and families,” she said.

Patsy also always wanted to be a wife and mother, and a teacher. “Happiness to me was being with someone I loved, I never really aspired to be in the limelight, or in politics. But I also always wanted to be involved with things. I’ve always been bossy, and I wanted to be part of the decision-making process, and to take care of people,” she stated.

Through the years, she has balanced her desires, raising two incredible daughters, sharing a wonderful life with her husband, and teaching. She spent 25 years as a teacher in North Carolina private and public schools, retiring a couple of years ago. She’s taught students from Kindergarten through adults, but spent the majority of her career teaching seventh and eighth grade social studies in Asheville schools, including Valley Springs, Venable, and Inca Middle School.

She realizes that teaching is closely related to politics. “ What I did was teach my students, love them, and help them—it’s the same thing in politics. I try to help them all.”

While she was teaching social studies she was also a member of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, and she carried her civic responsibilities into the class room. “I wanted to be a role model. I wanted students to be positive about politicians and politics. Sometimes I would discuss issues from the County with my students. We would have wonderful discussions, and I valued their opinions. These discussions also helped students learn to listen to each other.”

Less than one year ago, Patsy’s husband Johnny died from prostate cancer, an experience that profoundly effects her core. She says Johnny was a gentle, loving man and great supporter of her career. It was his illness that motivated her to retire from teaching, so she could spend more time with him. “As Johnny’s disease progressed, I knew he needed me 24/7, so I decided to leave the class room to be with him. I spent eight months caring for him, and dropped everything except my county commission meetings. It was very intense. For about six months, I didn’t know from day to day if he would live or die.”

“During this time, I was storing up energy and I didn’t really know what this was about. Now I know—running for Congress is what I’m doing now. I have no regrets, and I’m playing hard.”

She says Johnny did not know she was planning on running for Congress, because she did not know herself. But she relates a dream she had not too long ago. She’s standing in an empty conference room, there are streamers and balloons—she believes it’s after a campaign rally. She sees a man walking toward her, and recognizes Johnny. There’s a button placed over his heart. As he gets closer, she reads the button. It says Keever for Congress. “He was always a great supporter for me, and I know he’s supporting me now,” she smiled through her tears.

Love is the guiding principle in Patsy’s life, and she has plenty to give. Her greatest joy is spending time with her two daughters, her grand daughter Riley, and the rest of her family. She also loves helping people, including her students. She balances her public life with her private life like a master juggler, and she credits good friends who let her be herself. “I have a great support system, and I thrive on energy from other people.”

At the conclusion of our interview, Patsy grabbed her stuff and started for the door, then stopped, emptied her hands, and hugged me. “This is what women get to do, they allow themselves to love each other,” she said. Yes.

Patsy on Women and Politics
Patsy believes it’s important for women to step up in the political arena, to get involved on boards and commissions. She’s now in her third term as a County Commissioner, and serves on the Boards of Buncombe County Board of Health, United Way, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Task Force. She’s also devoted years to the League of Women Voters, including serving as past president of that Asheville/Buncombe organization. “I want women to know that I’m just a normal person, there’s nothing really special about me, but I’m accessible and open. I’m not really different from you; we all have our life experiences and are all in this together. We get to support each other and make things better.”

“Women are all about teamwork, and not as much about taking credit,” she said. “We just want to get the job done. Someone can have a great idea and not follow through—women can make it happen. A lot of men are too concerned about taking credit. I don’t need that, I just want to get it done.”

“I’ve found that it takes a thick skin to be a woman in politics, because no matter what you do, someone will be unhappy. I just get to believe and have confidence, to do the right thing for the right reason. I also know the importance of networking and being a team player. Finally, I know everyone wants to be appreciated, myself included, and I do that.”

According to Patsy everything boils down to politics, and politics effects every aspect of our lives. She encourages women to get involved. “You know, we see pictures of white males in all the history books, and we must also be in the picture. We matter. It’s WAY time for us to be there and support each other.”

Patsy the Candidate“Let’s face it, another white middle class male isn’t going to get anybody excited. I can motivate on a different level. I have the political experience, community experience, I know how families are effected by war, and I know the impact of businesses shutting down across our region. I know this is mine to do and I believe I will win—which is kind of frightening, but fabulous!”

Her first priority is a quality education for all of western North Carolina’s students, and she knows that today’s students are the work force of tomorrow. To help insure a robust economic future for our region, she is committed to providing our children, teachers, and schools with the resources needed to succeed.