Ann Marie Keller

Ann Marie Keller
Surfside Beach
Ann Marie Keller, 93, resident of Surfside Beach, SC, born in Buffalo, New York on December 4, 1922, died on June 24, 2016.
Ann Marie (Trapper) Keller married her husband, Andrew King Keller, a West Point graduate, on D-Day June 6, 1944. Ann was a devoted Army wife and helped raise their 11 children, seven boys and four girls, while Andy served 22 years in the military, retired as a Lt. Col. in the United States Army, and then after some time in the Washington DC area, they retired to Surfside Beach, South Carolina in 1982.
Ann Keller and her husband, Andy, devout Catholics, were active members of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Garden City, South Carolina since 1982. They helped build the new St. Michael's church with a significant donation and have a memorialized brick in the entryway.
Ann was named Catholic Woman of the Year. Ann and Andy were founding members of Grand Strand Citizens for Life, which grew substantially with their support. Ann and Andy were featured in a full-page story in The Sun News when they were recognized as the Pro-Life Couple of the Year for the State of South Carolina.
Ann Keller coordinated a Pregnancy Hot Line for many years.
She was a Eucharistic Minister, and an active member of the Secular Franciscan Order.
After 52 years of a wonderful marriage, which included winning a dance contest with her husband, Ann's spouse, Andy, died in 1996. Following the death of Andy, her "one-and-only", the man she fell in love with while still in high school, Ann went on to lovingly support her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren with an endless source of love and wit, while continuing her many Church-related activities.
Everyone who met Ann Keller felt special and felt loved. Ann had that God-given gift of connecting with all those around her in a manner that went beyond normal courtesy but extended into a sense of deep love, respect, and appreciation that sprang from her deep spiritual convictions that were continuously nurtured by her ongoing devotion to Jesus, Mother Mary, and all the Saints.
Ann's husband, Andrew King Keller, is descended from Capt. John King of Northampton, Massachusetts who fought in the American Revolution, making all of Ann and Andy's female descendants eligible to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Ann was generous of her time, talent, and treasure; and even into her 90's continued to serve St. Michael's parish doing volunteer work in the Church's gift shop.
Ann will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her extensive network of relatives and friends.
Ann is survived by 5 sons and 4 daughters: Michael Keller and wife Karen, Lake Oswego, Oregon; David Keller and wife Carmen, Jacksonville, Florida; Mark Keller, Portland, Maine; Ann-Marie and Robert Eakins, Mount Vernon, Washington; Susan and Jeff Mevissen, Conway, South Carolina; Mary Keller, Sparks Glencoe, Maryland; Teresa and Art Kurz, Cary, Illinois; John Keller and wife Elena, Ellicott City, Maryland; and Thomas Keller, Conway, South Carolina.
Ann is also survived by her sister-in-law Sally (and Larry) Wilke; sister-in-law Rosemarie Trapper; and a large number of nephews and nieces.
Ann is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren (with 2 more on the way).
Ann was pre-deceased by 2 sons: Paul and Andrew (Drew).
Final burial location will be Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in the same burial lot as her husband Lt. Col. Andrew King Keller retired.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude and thanks for the extra tender loving care their mother, Ann Keller, received from Lower Cape Fear Hospice Mercy Care, Kingston Nursing Center-East Wing-Hummingbird Lane, the wonderful staff at Conway Medical Center, Threshold Choir, all of mom's good and loving friends in the Surfside, Conway, Garden City area, all her friends at St. Michael's church, and all the new friends she made in her years since leaving her home and going into more extended care. We wanted to list all of these wonderful friends by name but the list is just way too long.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Mercy Care, St. Michaels Catholic Church, or the Grand Strand Citizens For Life.
For more information contact David King Keller, david@kbdag.com.
A memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, 10:00 AM at St. Michaels Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Sunday, July 3, 2016 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel.
Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/obituaries
Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.