Chesterton resident Shirley P. Keller passed away on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 at the VNA Horton Hospice Center in Valparaiso. She was 69.

Shirley was born on Feb. 28, 1940 in Toledo, Ill. to William and Hazel (Whitaker) Bolin. On Jan. 21, 1961 in LaPorte at Sacred Heart Church, she married Stanley C. Keller, her high school friend and college sweetheart. Stanley preceded her in death in 2001.

She is survived by her children, retired Lt. Colonel Stephen Keller (wife Denise) of O’Fallon, Ill., Scott Keller (Cindy) of Westville, Sandra Sanchez (husband Ruben) of Lake Station, Stanley Keller (Vickie Fancher) of Chesterton, Sharon Bennett (Jeff) of Columbia, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; sisters Helen Manthey of Michigan City and Betty Lepley (Gordon) of Greenwood, Ind.

In addition to her husband, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and brother Charles Bolin.

Shirley graduated from Rolling Prairie High School in 1957. She also graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary math education in 1961 and a master’s in 1985. After staying at home as a homemaker for 22 years and having five children, she began teaching 7th and 8th grade science and math in 1983 at St. Paul School in Valparaiso. After 16 years, she retired early because of her husband’s illness. Among her accomplishments, she received a certificate for teaching religion, participated in the SOS program at St. Paul for the McDonald House, was a Junior Achievement teacher, and received the Inez Canan award for citizenship from Purdue University. She was also a member of the Green Guard Society at Purdue and a member of St. Patrick Church where she was a money counter and a member of the rosary makers. She was also a member of the Omicron Sorority--Pi Epsilon Kappa and the funeral luncheon committee of St. Patrick. In addition, she was a blood donor, with a 7 gallon pin. She also made afghans for Birth Right babies, donating over 100 afghans. She was a volunteer at the Duneland Resale Shop and the Waters Nursing Home.

A mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 638 N. Calumet Road, Chesterton. Interment will be in Heckman Cemetery, LaPorte. A visitation will be on Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton. Memorials may be made in memory of her husband Stanley to the ALS foundation or the VNA Hospice. www.ee-fh.com

Posted 2/8/2010