Mary "Ruth" Keller

Mary “Ruth” Keller, age 98, of Fairfield, IA passed away at 10:20 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield, IA.

There will be an open visitation from 8:00 am – 10:00 am, Monday, March 21, 2016 prior to the service at Behner Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 am, Monday, March 21, 2016 at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Todd Holman officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA.

Memorials can be made to JCHC Auxiliary. Cards and memorials can be mailed to: Sharyn Workman, 905 South 2nd, Fairfield, Iowa 52556

Ruth was born March 25, 1917, in McCall, IL to Ray and Verna Schilson Emmert.
In her early years she lived in Burlington and worked at the Iowa Ordinance Plant. There she met and married Merlin Keller on April 13, 1943. To this union were born two children, Larry Lee Keller and Sharyn Rae Workman. Ruth and Merlin later divorced. Ruth lived the rest of her life in Fairfield.

She worked at Universal Producing and Winfrey CO. Ruth retired in 1979. She was a charter resident of CALU Apts. Ruth loved watching the cooking channel and all news shows. She loved doing word search puzzles and was a big NASCAR fan.

Ruth is survived by her son, Larry (Libby) Keller of St. Charles, MO; her daughter, Sharyn (Chuck) Workman of Fairfield, IA; two grandchildren, Todd (Patti) Workman of Burbank, CA and Tiffany (Steve) Crile of Fairfield, IA; 4 great grandchildren, Grace Ann Workman, Alex, Carson and Jolie Crile; two sisters, Rama Danielson of Knoxville, IL and Vivian Fleckinger of Winfield, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Verna Emmert; 4 brothers, Don, Leon, George and Jerry.