Olive Keller

Olive M. Keller, 93, passed peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, at her home in Cape Girardeau from complications of Alzheimer's disease.

Mrs. Keller was born Nov. 6, 1923, at Puxico, Missouri, to F.J. and Lula Armstrong.

Her family moved to Cape Girardeau to establish the Silver Springs dairy farm. She completed her elementary education at Campster Grade School and graduated from College High School on campus at Southeast Missouri State University in 1940.

Through various community activities, she met Albert H. Keller. The couple were united in marriage Dec. 24, 1941, at Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage and settled on the Keller dairy farm on Bloomfield Road (now County Road 205). To this union two children were born, Terry L. Keller (Nanci) and Denise K. Hauck (Paul).

Olive was a loving grandmother to Heather M. Hauck, Brent J. Keller (Amy), Cara Kellersmith (Chad), Krista M. Brackman (Nick), Angela D. Larsen (Adrien) and Gregory R. Keller. Mrs. Keller is great-grandmother to 14 children, Logan, Emerson and Finley Keller, Alex and Kaia Kellersmith, Kaden, Leah, Hannah, Mikaela and Cole Brackman, and Aiden, Annalise, Abigail Grace and Alexandra Larsen.

She was active in organizations in her community and church. Olive was a member of the Campster Welfare Club and was a leader in the Campster 4-H Club for many years. At Trinity Lutheran Church, Olive was a member of the quilt group, a greeter and volunteered to visit shut-ins.

Olive is survived by her brother, Carl D. Armstrong and his wife, Connie; a sister-in-law, Luella Armstrong; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, F.J. and Lula Armstrong; her husband, Albert H. Keller; a brother, Russell E. Armstrong (Luella); a sister, Bonnie M. Ludwig, and her husband, Vernon; and a sister, O. Eileen Gannon, and her husband, Martin Gannon.

A special appreciation goes to her family of caregivers for the last five years: Deborah Wolfe, Terressa Slinkard, Brittney Monahan and Joyce Menz.

Family and friends may gather from 1 p.m. until the time of service Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

At her request, a small, private memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Envelopes will be available at the funeral home for memorials to Be Wyatt Kind, an organization that sends new iPads to terminally ill children fighting cancer. Other expressions of sympathy may be sent to the funeral home.

Online expressions of sympathy can be left at www.crainsonline.com.