Dorothy C. Keller

Dorothy C. Keller, 75, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008.

Dorothy Caroline Keller was born April 20, 1933, on a farm outside Henderson, Iowa. Her parents Guy and Mabel Stephens were farmers and raised 13 children on the family farm located on the Historic Pioneer Trail traveled by the Mormons and settlers heading west before crossing the Missouri River. Dorothy attended country school where she competed in sports playing football and basketball on the boy's team because the country school was too small for a girl's team. After graduating from Macedonia High School in 1951, she worked at Mutual of Omaha Insurance company before falling in love with her lifetime sweetheart and husband of 55 years Gene W. Keller. They met at a dance in Macedonia when he was home on leave from the Korean War. They were married May 2, 1953, and began their life together settling in Council Bluffs, Iowa to raise a family. They raised three children; Douglas, DeeAnna and Charles all graduates of Abraham Lincoln High School.

Dorothy was employed for many years at Jennie Edmunson Hospital in Council Bluffs, where she worked in the accounting department and then for Dr. Maurice Margules. Later in life after retiring they traveled, finally settling in Hurst, Texas near their sons. Dorothy spent many hours doing what she liked volunteering at the "Coat of Many Colors" Resale store in the last years of her life. She loved doing this work that benefited families in need and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award by the Methodist Church in 2007.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Mabel Stephens; brothers, Robert, Dwain and Gary Stephens; sisters, Betty Edick and Mayola Keller.

Survivors include husband of 55 years, Gene W. Keller; sons, Douglas and wife, Shelly Keller, Charles and wife, Brandy Keller; daughter, DeeAnna Keller; brothers, Dean, Dwight, Bill, Larmon and Clifford Stephens; sisters, Mary Kinney and Jolene Adkins; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and 31 nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service, 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at Skyvue Victoria Chapel. Burial in Skyvue Memorial Gardens.


This obituary was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil.