Eleanor Anna Keller

Eleanor A. Keller, 91, passed away August 6, 2011 at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital due to complications of surgery.

Eleanor Anna Fox was born September 5, 1919 in Brainerd, Minnesota to George and Martha (Zander) Fox. She was raised and educated in Brainerd with her six brothers and two sisters.

After high school, Eleanor visited her grandmother, Katherine Zander Rosenkranz in Yakima. While attending Nob Hill Evangelical Church she met her future husband, Walter Keller. They were married on March 15, 1939 and farmed in Tieton, Washington for their 52 married years. Together they started Keller Fruit and Cold Storage, working side by side growing and packing apples.

After retirement they traveled extensively, and spent winters in Hawaii where they established many long term friendships.

Eleanor attended and was an active member of Highland Evangelical United Brethren Church, later becoming Highland United Methodist Church. She also attended Bible Study Fellowship

Her greatest joys in life beside her own children were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the grandma who always had just what you needed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walt in 1991, her son Richard Keller in 2000 and five brothers and two sisters.

She is survived by one brother, Robert Fox of Apopka, Florida; also her son Ray (Susan) Keller, daughters Roberta (Dennis) Caffrey, Rosie (Mike) Saunders and daughter-in-law Patricia Keller.

She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, Andrew (Mary Jo) Keller, Megan and Thomas, Julie (Steve) Bosma, Kathryn, Nichole, Jake, Leah and Steven, Michele ( Mike ) Villegas, Brian, Nathan and Adam, Heidi (Bob) Wells, Benjamin, Samuel and Olivia, James (Nikki) Keller, Dalton, Kendall and Rachael, Sean (Crystal) Caffrey, Jacob and Jessie, Chad (Alissa) Keller, Audrey and Emma, Brooke (Michael) Maloney, Sawyer, Christian (Susan) Saunders, Caleb.

A special Thank You to Linda and Renee at Crescent Place for their loving care, and the staff and caregivers at Highgate Senior Living, who knew her fondly as “Nana”.

A burial service will be held at West Hills Memorial Park at 12:30pm on Saturday, Aug 13th, followed by a memorial Service at 2:00pm at West Side Church, 6901Summitview Ave. Viewing will be held on Thursday and Friday from 4:00 pm to 8:00pm at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Highgate Senior Living, 5605 W. Chestnut, Yakima, WA 98908, or to the Neonatal ICU (NICU) in care of Memorial Foundation, 2701 Tieton Dr., Yakima, 98902. To share a memory of Eleanor visit www.keithandkeith.com.