Sheela A. Keeney

Sheela Ann Keeney, age 78, of Belle, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. 

Sheela was born May 2, 1946, in Summerfield, a daughter to the late Henry and Virgina (Fuchs) Siegler.

She was a 1964 graduate of Belle High School and a longtime member of the Pilot Knob Church. Sheela was very active in the church, serving as a Sunday School Teacher as well as in the children’s activities and other church functions. She read her Bible daily and her faith in God was strong.

On June 13, 1964, she was united in marriage to Melvin Keeney by pastor Jett in Bland. Melvin survives at their home

Sheela had been employed at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis for a number of years, owned and operated the Chocolate Connection in Fairbanks, Alaska for 10 years and worked in registration at the University of Alaska for 10 years. Sheela and Melvin moved back to the Belle area in 1995 and Sheela went to work for Belle Elementary as a para professional. She was employed by the school for almost 30 years in the lunchroom and assisting the teachers in the classrooms. She enjoyed her work with the children. 

Sheela enjoyed gardening and canning what she grew, taking pictures and keeping scrapbooks full of the pictures, and cooking. She loved making special meals for people in her family and for her friends and if you left her house hungry it was your fault. Sheela was always on the go and loved taking vacations with Melvin to various places in the U.S. including many trips back to Alaska. Above all, she loved being with her family and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was her life and she will be missed tremendously by them, her friends and anyone who knew and loved her. 

In addition to her husband, Melvin, Sheela is survived by: two children Curt Keeney and his wife Melanie of Belle and Cherri Keeney Hinz of Belle; four grandchildren, Ambrea Reyes and her husband Tyler, Richie Hinz and his wife Cait, Levi Hinz and his wife Nakiya, and Hunter Wulff; three great-grandchildren, Sofia Reyes, Audie Reyes, and Mila Reyes; three brothers, Duane Siegler and his wife Reatha of Summerfield, Dave Siegler and his wife Sheila of Las Vegas, and Brent Siegler of Fairbanks, Alaska; and brother-in-law, Wendell Keeney and his wife Kris as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. 

Visitation for Sheela will be on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Sassmann’s Chapel in Belle from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at Sassmann's Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Russ Walje officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, expression of sympathy may be made to the Pilot Knob Baptist Church. 

Due to the weather and road conditions, the funeral service has been moved from Pilot Knob Church to Sassmann's Chapel in Belle. Interment will take place at a later date.