Janet O. Keller

Janet O. Keller, 85, Maywood, Mo., passed away at 11:18 p.m., Friday, July 21, 2023, at Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal, Mo.

Janet was born March 17, 1938, in Rock Falls, Ill., to Robert and Olive Wright Pyse. She married James F. Keller on Aug. 19, 1961, at First Baptist Church in Palmyra, Mo. He preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2016.

Survivors include her sons, Brad Keller (Debbie), Lake St. Louis; Todd Keller, Maywood; and Scott Keller, Palmyra; grandchildren, James “Austin” Keller and Shae Nicole Keller; brother, Gary Pyse (Marilyn), Palmyra; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 55 years, James Keller; and brothers Fred Pyse and Robert “Bob” Pyse.

As a homemaker, Janet relished the job of wife and mother to her three boys. She welcomed everyone into her home and often encouraged others to just stop on by when they had a chance. Quite often they would find Janet with a fresh baked cake or sugar cookies to share. 

Along with the joy she had entertaining those who stopped by, she found she had a love and talent for baking and decorating wedding cakes, which she turned into a thriving business, making numerous wedding cakes over the years.  

Janet had a servant’s heart, relishing any opportunity to do things for others with a smile on her face and a laugh in the air. Her love of bright bountiful colors was evident in her vegetable garden, rose bushes, and the irises she would tenderly nurture into beautiful blooms. 

In the summer and fall she would take her bounty and start canning for the meals she would create. She looked forward to mushroom hunting, and visits to Holiday Acres Lake with her family. 

She was quite handy and looked for opportunities to find old antiques she could refinish into something beautiful again. Her loving heart and generous spirit will be missed by all.

Janet attended Emerson Baptist Church for many years.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 27, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel. Pastor Dewayne Larenson will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra.

Pallbearers will be Brad Keller, Scott Keller, Todd Keller, Austin Keller, Travis Keller and Shae Keller.

Friends and family are invited to Janet’s Life Celebration at a visitation that will be held  from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute may be viewed at www.LewisBrothersFuneralChapel.com.