Emmet Keller

February 7, 1924 - September 13, 2011

Emmet Fay Keller Emmet Fay Keller, age 87, died Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at South Wind Hospice Home in Pratt, Kansas. He was born February 7, 1924 on a farm near Iuka, KS to Emmet and Verlie (Leatherman) Keller. Emmet Fay, called Fay to distinguish him from his father, attended Star Elementary near Iuka. Then he graduated from Antrim High School in the St. John area. In 1943 Fay joined the army and served as a Medic with the 508th Battalion in France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Fay said of his experience in the army, “If people ever saw the hardships of war and the soldiers in those ambulances, they’d never forget to honor those men. The infantry had it rough…. So many infantry men gave their all for this country. I was humbled by the things I saw.” Upon returning from the war in March 1946, he farmed for his dad and then enrolled at Central Christian College in McPherson, KS. There he met Loretta Maddox, who became his wife August 27, 1950 in Greeley, CO in a double ceremony with her sister Ruby Maddox, who married Jack Shupe. Fay taught school, including serving as principal for twenty-four years in Pratt and Reno Counties; but he loved the land and spent most of his life farming in the Iuka area. As recently as the spring of 2008 he planted maize although he was battling cancer. Fay also loved music and was active in the music program of the Pratt Free Methodist Church, of which he was a charter member. Last month, it just happened to be his and Loretta’s wedding anniversary, he sang “Then I Met Jesus”. He had enjoyed singing with the Mennonite Men’s Chorus for about twelve years. Surviving are his wife Loretta of sixty-one years; three brothers, Roy (Jean) Keller of Hillsboro, KS, Mike (Helen) Keller of Wichita, KS, Bud (Sue) Keller of Preston, KS; and four sisters, Gaylene (Wesley) Fisher of Egg Harbor, WI, Grace Morris of Olathe, KS, Freda (Bill) Smith of Wichita, KS and Carol Paulsen of Stafford, KS. Preceding Fay in death were his parents, two brothers, Don Keller and Wesley Keller, and one sister, Dorothy Reid. Viewing will be prior to service at 9:00 a.m. at the Pratt Free Methodist Church. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 16th at the Pratt Free Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will be in Iuka Cemetery, Iuka, KS. Memorials may be made to the Pratt Free Methodist Church or South Wind Hospice in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS. Condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com.