Mary Lu (Brown) Keep died peacefully on Jan. 6 in Newton.

She was born on June 7, 1930 in Nichols, N.Y., to Dr. Welton and Marie Brown. She attended Syracuse University where she met her husband, D. Bruce Keep, and they were married in 1951. They lived first in Wayland and then spent many happy years in Pittsford (Rochester), N.Y. where Mary Lu continued teaching students with reading challenges and ultimately received her PhD in education from the University of Rochester.

Fond memories of New England led Mary Lu and Bruce to build a home in 1987 on Martha’s Vineyard for their retirement years. A resident of West Tisbury, she was active in the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club and enjoyed spending time in her home gardens, especially treasuring the peacocks that visited frequently. She was a member of the West Tisbury Congregational Church community and found great joy in singing with the Island Community Chorus. In February 2012, Mary Lu left the Island and moved to an assisted living home in Newton.

She loved peppermint candy, anything chocolate, antiques and animals of all kinds. She will be remembered for her facility with language, her clever puns and her wide repertoire of home baked cookies.

She is survived by her two sons, David Keep of Plymouth, Mich., and Stephen Keep of Wellesley, as well as four grandsons: Britten and Jamie Keep of Michigan and Matthew and Ryan Keep of Massachusetts.

A private family service will be held on the Vineyard in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).