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- Obituary:
Mary Charlene Greer Keller Jones passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2018, after a valiant fight with cancer. She was 86 years old.
She went by many names, "Skeeter", to her devoted older sister Louise, and her Texas family,(she was always so tiny like a mosquito), Mom, Char, to most of her friends, Aunt Charlene, Sister Jones, while serving her mission to Nigeria with her second husband, Elwin Jones, and in her declining years, Mary, but the name she loved the most was Grandma Char to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was born to Charles Wesley Greer and Janie Gertrude Ward on 13 July 1932 but was raised by her mom and "Papa" Lester, her mother's second husband. Besides her one sister, Lousie she had ten half-siblings in Millican and rural Brazos County, Texas. It was a tough life with dirt floors and in the midst of the Great Depression. But what they lacked in worldly goods she made up with an abundance of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and always having a good time singing, dancing, laughing or fishing on the bayou. She was raised in the Baptist Sunday School.
In her early teens, she dreamed of marrying a man named Ralph and her own words she said, "in my senior year of high school she found the Ralph of her dreams." She met the love of her life on a blind date, Ralph Ross Keller. This Cache Valley boy was stationed at Ellington AirForce Base, in Houston, Texas and they were married there in 1951. They moved to the Rio Grande Valley, and the Elder's quorum president from Logan had sent Ralph the Improvement Era. This was her first introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1953 they moved to Logan, she was busy with Guy, and Vance, her first two boys, and so really didn't hear much more about the church while living there. They moved back to Texas where Ralph could find more work and the church was presented to her as she said, "in a more favorable light by dedicated and sincere members." She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day in January of 1955 in Houston, Texas. Ralph also became an active member of the church. In July of 1957, they moved to Torrance, California. They became active in the Westdale 2nd ward and by this time Kathy and Susan had joined the family. Ralph was called on stake mission, and they were sealed for time and all eternity with their little family in June of 1958 in the Los Angles temple. It was at this time Char also became involved in genealogy and teaching theology classes in church.
Char always knew that there was another baby boy waiting to join their family but how would they afford it? With faith that all would work out, they moved forward, and Ralph got a better paying job, she became pregnant with their last child, Aaron. Early in the pregnancy, the doctor had detected cervical cancer. Again with full faith, she refused to have an abortion, and the family moved back to Logan, Aaron was born, April of 1962, a healthy baby boy. Their children are Guy(Carolyn) Keller, Vance (deceased), Kathy (Tyler) Griffiths, Susan (Dave) Eliason, and Aaron Keller.
During this time they bought their home in River Heights, then the 2nd ward and this is the same home where she spent her final days. She was active in church and loved to put on parties for the ward. One time she had Guy ride his bike up to first damn to catch fish for the ward luau. He caught over 30 fish, and the party was a success! Char worked at the Safeway Bakery for 15 years decorating cakes and making cinnamon rolls, and she developed dear friends from her associations there. There was always good food in the Keller household from fried chicken, chocolate cake, homemade pizza from dough to the sauce and of course from scratch authentic Mexican food. In 1965 Ralph had the first of many health related issues and finally passed away at the age of 51 in 1981. They had 29 years together, but she had become a widow at 48.
After Ralph died, she kept herself busy with art and institute classes. In December of 1982, she started to go to single's dances because she loved to dance and at the Valentine's dance she met a handsome widower, Elwin Jones from Malad, Idaho. She asked her friend, "Where the heck is Malad"? After five dates he asked her to marry him, and after much prayer and fasting, she said yes! They were married by the end of April in 1983. They had their reception in the River Heights 2nd ward. She then moved to St. John, Idaho to spend her next 28 years married to Elwin. She was drawn to Elwin's spirituality and love of the gospel and "that smile." Char was a great help to Elwin with his furnace business. They loved camping and traveling, and it seemed like weekly, going to dances and having family get-togethers. In 1985 Char started teaching line dancing to the ladies in the area and they officially started The Malad Boot Scooters and would perform at area nursing homes through southern Idaho and northern Utah.
In 1997 & 1998 they were called to the Lagos Nigeria Mission, and they helped to establish the area to missionary work. It was a very poor area but rich spiritually, and they had much success. Elwin returned from their mission with declining health and Char cared for him during the entire time until he passed away in 2012.
Char then moved back to her original home in River Heights, now in the 4th ward. She enjoyed the many friendships and support of the ward and neighbors. She especially loved the senior family home evening group. She enjoyed her garden, took her artistic painting back up and continued to serve others, especially her son Vance until his passing in 2016. She faithfully took breakfast daily to Dean Hicken for several years before his passing.
The family wishes to thank those that have loved and supported her, especially her neighbor, Gary and the members of her ward for their generous service to her during her remaining years while living in River Heights.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16, 2018, at noon at the River Heights Stake 800 South 600 East River Heights. A viewing will be held prior from 10 & 11:30 also at the stake center.
(Published by Nelson Funeral Home of Logan, Utah)
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1932 - 2018 (86 years)
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