Samuel Keller

Samuel L. Keller, 68, of Young Road, Hickory died Tuesday June 21, 2011 at Frye Regional Medical Center. Born June 9, 1943, he was the son of the late James Dulan Keller & Lillie Mae Dishman Keller. Samuel enjoyed fishing, hunting and loved helping others. He never met a stranger. Samuel hauled cars for the Toyota Corporation for over 20 years, Nissan for over five years and hauled boats for Dixie Boats for several years. He has been retired from E.R. Carpenter after 15 years. In addition to his wife, Nancy Lou Huffman Keller of the home; five daughters, Sherry McClellan of Hickory, Janie Sipe and husband Wayne of Newton, Elaine Miller of Hickory, Darlene Doan of Lebanon, Missouri, and Roberta Keller of Jacksonville, Florida; three sons, Samuel Lee Keller & wife April of Forest City, Eddie Russell Keller of HIckory and Randy Horace Keller and wife Tina of Claremont; four step sons, Michael Dale Huffman and wife Lisa of Vale, Darrell Lee Bumgarner and wife Helen of Vale and Jeffery Scott Bumgarner & wife Lisa of Hickory and David Huffman; a sister, Georgia Mae Rowe of Lenoir; three brothers, James R. Keller of Hickory, Buck Keller of Hickory and Pete S. Keller and wife Kathy of Claremont; 32 grand-children and 15 great grand-children survive him. A daughter, Judy Christine Keller and two sisters, Hazel Hedrick and Edna Mae Craig preceded him in death. A funeral will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday June 25, 2011 at Open Word Holiness Church on Blackburn School Road. The Rev. Matthew Sparks and Rev. Ernie Richards will officiate. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. Please sign the online guestbook at www.JenkinsFuneralHome.net. The Keller family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Newton.