‘Unsinkable Carmen Keirn turns 100

PALMER – May 24 was Carmen Keirn’s 100^th birthday party and open house. Everyone and anyone was invited to visit her for this major milestone. There was a steady flow of people in and out of her cozy abode, the same house she’s lived in since moving to Alaska in 1975.

A lifelong teacher, mentor, and almost everyone’s friend sat on her couch smiling and sharing small talk with her steady stream of visitors. Even at 100, she still feels obligated to touch base with everyone.

After waking up from a nap, she said, “I’m not caught up with all the people yet.”

With some laughs, memories and lots of cake, everyone assured her she would be able to greet them all. There was a common consensus floating around her home that day: that Keirn has lived a fulfilling and adventurous life, touching the lives of many during her journey.

Keirn was Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, during the Mexican Revolution. Carmen’s parents split up when she was 5, and she later escaped to America with her mother, grandmother and two sisters. Keirn was a straight-A student in school, and grew up with what seems to be an unshakable drive to succeed and to help others along the way. According to Linda Sloan, the retiring director of the Family Health Center in Palmer — and Keirn’s longtime family doctor — she was “unsinkable.”

“She has always had a constant cheerfulness. I have never seen anyone so indomitable,” Sloan said.

Keirn is a revered educator, having spent more than 30 years teaching Spanish, physical education and health to high school and college students in Los Angeles. Even after “retiring,” she continued educating by substitute teaching at Palmer Junior Middle School. Some of her fellow teachers were there for her birthday and noted on how well she taught and how much she “loved the kids.”

Keirn appeared to be well traveled based on her visitor’s testimonies. She took groups on international tours across Europe and beyond, visiting places like Greece and Israel.

It was her husband, Karris Keirn’s love for game hunting and his eventual infatuation with Alaska that brought her to the state. He convinced her to come up after agreeing to leave somewhere warm during the winters.

After her husband’s death in 1998, Keirn seemed to always have a steady purpose. She took care of her two sisters who both fought cancer, bringing them up to Alaska. She also assisted her niece who battled illnesses. According to unanimous testimonies, with no children of her own, Keirn made her community her family and always tried to help those in need.

It was Keirn’s caretaker, Rosemary’s idea to invite the whole community to see her. Even U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski wrote her a card after seeing the event in the Frontiersman “Around the Valley” listings.

According to her family and friends, Keirn loves to feed people and always had a warm, “comfort tortilla” waiting for them. She may not do much cooking now but she still welcomes guests with candor and always has a warm, comfort smile waiting for them.