Obituary for Mildred “Elaine” Keller

Elaine Keller

April 20, 1928 – April 21, 2023

Mildred Elaine Keller, longtime Newkirk resident, died Friday afternoon, April 21 at Hillcrest Manor, Blackwell, OK surrounded by family. She had turned 95 the day before with many visits from family and friends.

The daughter of Eldred and Mildred Tomlinson, Elaine was born April 20, 1928 in Smith Center, Kansas. She had a twin brother, Thaine, and two younger sisters, Norma and Reva. She grew up on a farm and received her education in Smith Center, graduating with the class of 1946. She attended training that summer and then taught one year at Pleasant Valley rural school, teaching 1st through 8th grade. The next year she attended Kansas State University and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

While at Kansas State she met Harley Keller and on September 30, 1951 they were married in Smith Center. Their honeymoon was spent traveling to New Jersey and they established their first home at Ft. Dix, where Harley was stationed in the United States Army. After Harley received an honorable discharge in 1952, the couple moved to Arkansas City, KS and started their family. They were blessed with three children: Janet, Mark and Lynn. In 1960 they moved to Newkirk, OK where Elaine spent several years as a homemaker and then taught history and English at Newkirk High School.

Elaine was a loyal friend and family member with a kind and caring soul. She lived in the same home in Newkirk for more than 60 years. She had a very special bond with her parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a wonderful circle of friends. Elaine enjoyed bridge, camping, church activities, and community functions. She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church of Newkirk where she served in many capacities. Elaine and Harley loved to travel and had visited 49 of the 50 states and abroad, many of those trips with her siblings and special friends. She also enjoyed growing flowers, sewing, and teaching.

Elaine is survived by two daughters, Janet Senning and husband Bob of Green Valley, Arizona. and Lynn DeMuth and husband Chris of Blackwell; a son, Mark Keller and wife Karen of Corvallis, Oregon; two sisters, Norma Lambert and Reva Smith both of Wichita, Kansas; a sister-in-law, Donna Tomlinson of Smith Center, Kansas; three grandchildren, Kelsey Kubicki and husband Adam of Skiatook, Dillon DeMuth and wife Sarah of Stillwater, Colton DeMuth and wife Katie of Kingfisher; and three great grandchildren, Cayson and Carter Kubicki and Emma DeMuth.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a twin brother, Thaine Tomlinson.

Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 27th in the Newkirk First Christian Church with Rev. Martin Foster officiating. Burial will be in the Newkirk Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 26th from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Casketbearers will be Mark Keller. Bob Senning, Chris DeMuth, Dillon DeMuth, Colton DeMuth and Adam Kubicki.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Newkirk Education Foundation, 710 W. South Street, Newkirk, Oklahoma 74647.