Mary Margaret Sears Keller was born June 21, 1918 to Odin Eli Sears and Cora May Anderson Sears. She left this earth April 19, 2012 to join her Savior and loved ones as her eternal reward. She was born at home in rural Robinson, Illinois the second of three children and died peacefully at the home with her daughter & son-in-law.

Mary's father moved them to Texas when she was four and a half years old to work in the oil field. They lived in Ivan, Eliasville, Rankin, Mexia and then Iraan, where she graduated high school. Her family moved to Robstown, TX where Mary Margaret attended cosmetology school in Corpus Christi. The family then moved to Bay City where she met and married Don E. Keller, Jr. Their first child was born in Bay City. Don's work in the oil business took them to Seminole, TX where their second child was born. The war took Don to the Philippines and Mary to Midland, TX to stay with her parents. Their third child was born while Mary was in Midland. After the war they returned to Seminole where their fourth child was born. Mary's life was busy raising four children, working in the local church and making clothes fro her family. Don's job with Marathon Oil took the to Hobbs, NM then Bay City and eventually to Warri, Nigeria where Don taught the Nigerian's oil production. Mary taught an American Cooking class to all the ex-pats there, making items of American culture that could not be found there, such as soda crackers, marshmallows, hamburger & hot dog buns. They returned to the states where Don's job took them to Corpus Christi until retirement. Upon retiring they returned to the Bay City area to be near family.

Mary Margaret loved cooking for family and church, knitting, sewing, and had a green thumb she exercised in raising flowers. She loved hosting family gatherings and having everyone over for a swim in the pool.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother Paul Evert Sears, Sister Ruth Sears Cadenhead, her husband and youngest daughter Nancy Ruth Keller Lane. Survivors inculde her children Don E. Keller III & wife Dianne of Houston, Mary Jane Keller McMillan & husband John of Bay City, Evert Eli Keller & wife Patricia of Portland, TX and son-in-law Thomas K. Lane of Bay City; grandchildren Margaret Anderson, Jeff McMillan, Don E. Keller IV, Kristina Keller, DeAnna Ruedas, Juliet Lane, Every "Buster" Keller and Marilyn Keller. She is also survived by great grandchildren Jacob Halama, Mattia Walker, Ian Anderson, Cora Keller, Max Anderson, Paloma Ruedas, Don "Quentin" Keller V, Angelica Ruedas, Emma Keller, Lillian Keller and brother-in-law Jack Keller & wife Patricia along with many loving nieces and nephews. Mary was cared for in the last years of life by her friends, Della White, Tom & Donna Quirk, Bertha Jefferson, Peggy Lane, Angels Home Health Care and Houston Hospice.

Family visitation will be from 4pm to 6pm Saturday and the funeral home. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Sunday, April 22, 2012 at the First Christian Church with Rev. Tom Quirk officiating. Following the service Mrs. Keller's earthly remains will be laid to rest next to her loving husband of 50 years in Cedarvale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeff McMillan,Don E. Keller IV, Jacob Halama, Evert "Buster" Keller, Don "Quentin" Keller V, Ian Anderson, Max Anderson & Ron Cadenhead. Memorial may be made to the First Christian Church, Angels Home Health Care or Houston Hospice.