http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXD9gzZarc4
On August 19, 2011 Josh Groban dedicated this beautiful song to our beloved Keley Rose. She was a huge fan of Josh's since first discovering him in 2005. She dreamed of going to his concert one day and in April she received tickets to his upcoming concert as a graduation present. Sadly, Keley lost her very short but hard fought battle with Ovarian Cancer on June 7 and never was able to see this wonderful man live in concert.
Josh knew about all of this and during his concert in Phoenix on August 19, 2011 he dedicated "To Where You Are" to The Beautiful Keley Rose (TBKR)
Keley and I first met when we were standing in line to register for Junior High School. We talked a little bit while we were waiting, then after filling out paperwork both of us snuck off with our moms to find our lockers. Sure enough, our lockers were right next to eachother. Her last name being Schaefer and mine being Schaus. A week later, Keley and I hung out during the entire "back to school, welcome to shepherd pool party" and by the end of it, she invited me to her Batmizfah. A Catholic girl myself, I had no idea what a Batmitzfah was, I thought it was some sort of fun barbecue party or something... A few weeks later, we were all celebrating Keley at her elaborate beautiful Batmizfah party... Two things from that party stand out in my mind. First, the fact that Keley endulged on a delicious chocolate which unfortunately had nuts in it, making her sick for a portion of the night. The second being, that for some strange reason - we all got started dancing the Macarena to every song that was played for the rest of the night.
By this point, Keley and I became very close, as everyone knows she was a wonderful friend to have. Later on in our lives together, when she was staying over at my house, we decided to go for a midnight snack.... One of our favorite things to have was bread with honey on it, and then fruit punch (out of a wine glass of course to feel sophisticated...) So Keley turns to me one time and says "How about you get the fruit punch and I'll make the broney and head". From that moment on, it was no longer bread with honey - it was forever referred to as broney and head, and added to our collection of countless inside jokes and tid bits.
Later on, Keley and I got stuck in a summer school class together for Math. We had Mr. Christiansen. Of course, between paying VERY close attention to the instructor, we would pass notes back and forth all day every day. One day, at the bottom of the note, I attempted to draw a hand that was in the shape of the sign for I love you. The thumb in this artistic masterpiece came out very large... So I drew a little arrow to it, and wrote - "Oh look, it's a 'Fat Thumbelina'". I am not sure why, but for some reason Keley and I got the giggles so unbelievably bad that we wound up being excused from class for the day.
Keley and I frequently "spoke" to eachother using Sign Language (we really only knew the letters, so we spelled everything out LoL). I remember going into a bakery with her grandmother in Brentwood and we pretended that I was deaf and signed the entire time we were in that bakery. We had extra fun signing "Helen Keller Style" where we would close our eyes and then have to feel each other's hand to figure out what letters we were signing and what was being said. It just cracks me up right now thinking about it. 
In the spring of 2005, we were hanging out in her room at her moms house in Alta Mesa, and we started talking about how much fun it would be to live in California near the ocean... The conversation soon involved budgeting, and serious planning, and the decision was made that she and I would move out to California as soon as we could.
Then, in October of that same year, we made the big move.
I remember Keley never set an alarm clock or the time on a microwave to a time divisible by 5. (ie.... 6:30/7:15... or 30 seconds, or 45 seconds) she ALWAYS set it for something off... (6:32/7:14 or 33 seconds or 42 seconds) etc. It was one of those amazing quirks that was just soooo Kel.
Keley had a flair for just about any and every thing she ever did. Over the years we had many jobs together, many classes, and did many many things. She excelled at nearly all of it. Especially when it came to games. She won just about every game we ever played. And she certainly knew it too. Any time she'd when - (which was about 85-90% of the time) she'd get that sly grin, and then start laughing. The only game I ever consistantly won was Othello... Keley was unbelievably smart. She just plain understood everything that was put in front of her. She constantly challenged me. And I loved her for all of it.
I am not sure I will ever understand why the Lord took you from us Sis, I do know that He brought us together for this time so that I would know what it means to have and be a true friend, to have a be a "sister by heart", to have and be a partner in crime, and to have and be someone that challenges that partner in crime. As time goes on, more and more memories have come to mind from our friendship and bond. I have and will miss you so much forever, and will never forget that bond.
~Love, Sis
Keley,
I first met Keley in 2004 when we both worked at Wells Fargo Bank. We were really close and had so much fun together. It made working that much better. I was sad when she decided to move to California for school and work but I think that brought us that much closer. We talked on the phone all the time and I always came to visit. We both loved going to Six Flags so we did that every time I came out to visit along with going to the beach. We would tell each other everything and she was the best listener. She never judged and always understood. We always had the best time together. I truly love Keley and I’m so sad. She is one of those people that you meet once in a lifetime. Even though we drifted apart over the years it didn’t matter. We always had a place in each other’s hearts. Being her friend I truly experienced a piece of heaven. My heart aches for her. Love you Keley Rose.
Robert Gaffney
