NATALIE MARIE KEIL
March 11, 1987 ˜ January 7, 2023

Natalie Marie Keil was born March 11, 1987, in Vancouver, WA, to Mary Katherine Herdener and Jeffery Meredith Keil. Natalie's sudden and tragic death at such a young age occurred on Jan. 7, 2023, in Vancouver, WA.

Natalie excelled academically, athletically, and socially since her days at St. Joseph's elementary school; thanks, loving guidance from some very special educators who were dedicated to her success. She was an Honor Roll student throughout her elementary years. Natalie led the St. Joseph's Girls Basketball team to multiple winning seasons, including CYO Tournaments where she continued to be top scorer and Most Valuable Player.

Natalie attended Skyview High School, and maintained her academic and athletic success, was a member of the volleyball and tennis team, but chose to focus primarily on the Women's Basketball team where she earned the distinction and recognition of Most Valuable Player consecutively from 2002-2005.

Natalie was also voted Most Inspirational Athlete by her teammates, which meant the world to her. Natalie maintained her status on the Honor Roll and was accepted into the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Washington Association Athletes. She also earned the designation and unique distinction of Scholar Athlete and graduated in 2005.

Natalie attended Washington State University to pursue a degree in Communications and was accepted into the prestigious Edward R. Murrow College of Communications, garnering one of the only 109 students accepted into the program. Natalie graduated from WSU in 2009 and loved every aspect of her college experience. She and her mom, Mary, a graduate of the University of Washington, would often banter back and forth as to which school was the best. Natalie's exuberance always won the debate!

Natalie began her career with Nordstroms Inc. and was quickly promoted to Department Manager, winning multiple top sales awards and company recognition for her sales and excellence in customer service. Nordstroms recognized her abilities and determined she would be capable of successfully introducing new product lines into our local area from Seattle and other international sources. She regularly received Nordstroms 5 Star Recognition for her abilities in retaining and acquiring new customer base for the company. Natalie also coordinated all the new employee training, providing instruction to new employees on how to achieve top sales and customer retention.

Natalie decided that she wanted to expand her horizons, accepted a Management position with Firestone Corporation, moving to Southern California in order to spend more time with her father and the Keil contingency of her family. After several years in sunny SoCal, she decided to move back to the Pacific Northwest to accept a position with the ULTA Corporation Management Team, mostly because she missed the rain - not really. Natalie coordinated a number of new store openings and was promoted to Company New Employee Area Trainer. She enjoyed her management role in the luxury cosmetic industry, but decided to pursue a different industry where she could work abroad and experience international career opportunities.

In 2019, Natalie accepted a position with Amazon as the Area Manager in Tigard, OR, where she thrived doing what she did best, motivating and encouraging people. The location she managed was one of the highest producing facilities in the Amazon organization.

Natalie loved the outdoors, especially walking on the riverfront, walking companions found it difficult to keep up with her long-legged stride. She loved boating and anything to do with the water. She also enjoyed the Herdener family reunions and the Keil camping trips in Eastern Oregon. She loved spending time at beach, especially if it was a sunny location like Hawaii or Mexico. Natalie loved to travel and accompanied her mom on many business and leisure trips.

As a Camp Howard counselor in junior high school, Natalie earned Cougar award for Best All Around Camper. Her mom recalled that when she picked Natalie up from the camp, a number of kids chased their car down the long winding road waving and shouting their admiration for Natalie.
Last year Natalie volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Vancouver enjoyed sharing her basketball skills with the children.

Natalie lived her life to the fullest and especially enjoyed visiting Carson Hot Springs, anything Kardashian, the Farmhouse where she and her mom watched the sunset by a crackling fire pit, favorite Pure Leaf iced tea, gummy bears, Hessler's Thanksgiving dinners, and Sashimi Sushi. She delighted at teasing her mom by stealing her bedroom slippers, being waited on while binge watching Court TV, Flipping Out, 20/20 and discussing their mutual crush on ABC News Anchor David Muir.

On January 11, 2020, Natalie was devastated by the sudden loss of her father Jeff, to which she suffered deeply. She was a dutiful and loving daughter to him and missed him every day.

Natalie was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Dr. Russell and Mina Herdener; her father, Jeffery Keil; and paternal grandparents, Ronald O. Keil and Barbara Brown.

Natalie was ours to love for 35 years, 9 months and 7 days, and impossible to capture the naive beauty and joy that was Natalie.

For those of us that profoundly mourn and miss her, we do not believe she is in a better place...the best place for Natalie is lounging on a chair in the sun, her feet dangling in the water, with that gorgeous face, beautiful blue eyes twinkling and laughing with her mom, friends, and family.

Services are at:

Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater

218 W 12th St, Vancouver, WA 98660

On Monday, January 23, 2023

10:30 a.m. Rosary

11:00 a.m. Mass

Committal to come after at:

Mother Joseph Catholic Cemetery

1401 E 29th St, Vancouver, WA 98663

Celebration of Life to follow at the Red Cross Building at the Fort Vancouver Barracks 1-3 p.m.
605 Barnes Street
Vancouver, WA 98661