Elsie Keller

Elsie May (LaMaster) Keller, formerly of LaCygne, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2006 at the Life Care Center in Osawatomie. Elsie was born to Maurice and Ruth (Sneegas) LaMaster on April 4, 1929 in Kansas City, KS. She grew up in LaCygne Kansas, graduating from high school in 1947. She attended the University of Kansas (Lawrence) and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Math Education, then taught the following year in Emporia Kansas. On June 8, 1952, Elsie married Emmett Robbins Keller of LaCygne and they made their home on the Keller farm by LaCygne until April 2005 when Elsie moved into the Life Care Center in Osawatomie. The Kellers were also residents of Osawatomie from 1961 to 1980. In addition to being a wife and mother of five children, Elsie was a substitute schoolteacher for over 30 years, a piano teacher for over 20 years, and a hospice volunteer for several years. She loved to play the piano and organ and did so at the LaCygne Christian Church for many years. Elsie also accompanied her own children and many other band and choir students during high school instrumental and vocal contests. She touched numerous lives by sharing her talents and compassion through these activities. Her family reaped the benefits of her love for cooking and sewing. She eagerly taught her daughters these skills. After they returned to the farm fulltime in 1980, Elsie continued to teach piano lessons for many years, retiring in 1999. After more than 77 years on earth, Elsie was welcomed home by her heavenly Father. She loved the Lord and shared that love with the gifts of hospitality, embroidery, music and teaching. Elsie is survived by her husband of 54 years, Emmett: five children, thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren - two sons, Ned (Judy) Keller of Grand Rapids, MI and their daughters Amy of Wheaton, IL and Jessica of Fort Worth, TX; Mike (Kimberly) Keller of Cheney, KS and their children Payton, Reece and Avery; three daughters, Jeannie (Dean) Rogers of Moorhead, MN and their children Melissa (David) Wolff and Elliot of Osawatomie, KS and Matthew Rogers and his son Chance of Lawton, OK; Sherri (Bruce) Money of Fergus Falls, MN and their sons Luke, Joel and Erik; Nancy (James) Fanning of Dexter, KS and their daughters Sarah (Zach) Massey of Chicago, IL and Tracy and Laura of Dexter; one brother, Daniel (Elizabeth) LaMaster of Garfield, AK; two sisters, Dorothy (Joseph) Beck of Groveland, CA and Wilma Sue Johns of Dallas, OR, one sister-in-law, Lou LaMaster of Manhattan, KS and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Charles. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Hospice of Kansas (care of funeral home) or charity of choice. Visitation: Thursday, 7:00-8:30 pm at Coffel-Schneider-Mangold Funeral Home, LaCygne. Service: Friday, 11am at Calvary Baptist Church LaCygne, with the Rev. Howard Curry officiating. Burial: Star Valley Cemetery Funeral Home: Coffel-Schneider-Mangold Funeral Home, 202 N 4th St, PO Box 304, LaCygne, KS, 66040-0304.