Doyle Melvin Keller

MURPHYSBORO - The Rev. Doyle Melvin Keller, 86, passed away at 6:17 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, in St. Joseph Hospital in Murphysboro.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, in Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro, with the Rev. Charles Allen officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Dongola. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Pettett Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Doyle was born on Nov. 18, 1921, in Dongola to Archie Melvin Keller and Lettie Jane (Benson) Keller.

He was in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and he served in the European Theater.

The Rev. Keller served as the first pastor of the First Baptist Church in Columbia. The church was only a mission church, and the services were held in a store building. He also pastored at Missionary Bapitst Church in Willisville, Oak Grove Baptist Church in Pinckneyville, First Baptist Church in Clay City and First Baptist Church in Mill Creek, where he retired.

He then supplied the pulpits of other churches all over Southern Illinois as long as he was able.

He was a member of the Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro. He enjoyed woodworking and he liked gardening.

Doyle married Roberta Brown on Oct. 3, 1942, in Cape Girardeau, and she survives.

Other survivors include four children and their spouses David and Suzanne Keller of Pinckneyville, and Robert and Phyllis Keller of Dongola Sharon and Jim Gray and Anna and Fred Beck, all of Murphysboro; eight grandchildren Jeff Keller and his wife, Regina, Brian Keller and his wife, Marcia, Matt Keller and his wife, Jill, Paul Marks, Jenny Nugent and her husband, Jason, Joseph Gray and his wife, Jara, Adam Beck, and Amy Beck; seven great-grandchildren, Jaime Keller, Megan Keller, Jackson Nugent, Lauren Gray, Sarah Richards, Allen Richards and Dylan Keller.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Donna Carol Keller; one brother; two sisters; and his parents.