Wife of ‘Family Circus’ Creator Dies

Obit Alzheimers  She was the inspiration for the Mommy character in the long-running "Family Circus" comic. Thelma Keane the wife of the comic's creator has died at age 82 of Alzheimer's disease.
by Jamie Burch
Published: Mon, May 26, 2008 - 12:23 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, May 26, 2008 - 12:37 pm CST
PHOENIX (AP) - She was the inspiration for the Mommy character in the long-running "Family Circus" comic. Thelma Keane, the wife of the comic's creator, has died at age 82 of Alzheimer's disease.

Bil Keane began drawing the comic in 1960. It depicted the
good-humored life of two parents and their four children. It is now featured in about 1,500 newspapers.

Keane told The Associated Press that when the cartoon first
appeared, his wife looked so much like Mommy that if she was in the
supermarket pushing her cart around, people would come up to her
and say, "Aren't you the Mommy in 'Family Circus?"' And he said
she would admit it.

Keane said that although his wife is gone, she is still with
him.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Email a Friend Email to a Friend   
Printer Friendly Printer Friendly
Translate: » Spanish | French | German | Italian | Japanese | Chinese | Russian | Hindi

Recently Commented On

Reading Proves Difficult For…

4 Total Comments
Reading Proves Difficult For AL Students Analysis of the Alabama High School Grad Exam shows that… more »

Driver Loses Control Hitting…

2 Total Comments
Driver Loses Control Hitting 10 People Police are questioning a driver in Fairfield, Alabama, after… more »

Fire Destroys Abandoned House

8 Total Comments
Fire Destroys Abandoned House An empty, single story house was destroyed Friday morning… more »

Panhandle Man Fatally Shoots…

5 Total Comments
Panhandle Man Fatally Shoots Black Bear In Yard A Panhandle Man Has Fatally Shot A Black Bear Known To Roam… more »

Recession Hits Food Network…

1 Total Comments
Recession Hits Food Network Hard Mississippi Food Network will not be able to distribute… more »