Jean Keeling

Melba Jean Keeling was escorted into eternity, May 9, 2017, at the age of 78. Jean was a devoted and loving wife and mom, world-class grandmother, beloved sister and friend, comforter, supporter, master pound cake baker and prayer warrior. She was a breath of fresh air to any room, spread the love of Jesus everywhere she went and was loved by all who met her.

Her granddaughter, Sara, said it best, “Our hearts are rejoicing and breaking at the same time.” We rejoice because we know that she is dancing in the presence of Jesus, utterly happy and whole, reunited with her husband, parents, grandparents, sweet sister and all the saints of old. Our hearts are breaking because of the void left by someone so loving, special and full of life. We are comforted and encouraged by knowing that we will all be together again soon.

She was born Melba Jean Evans on May 10, 1938 in Cullman County, Alabama to Ora Gaines Evans and Annie Bell Clark Evans. She graduated from Fairview High School, retired from Eaton Corp after 30 years of dedicated work, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Athens.

Visitation will be held Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 11:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. at McConnell Memorial Chapel. The funeral will follow at 1:00 P.M. with Joel Carwile officiating, and burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William “Buddy” Keeling; and sister, Clara Faye Brooks.

She is survived by her daughter, Gina Kirkland (Steve) of Hendersonville, NC; son, Tony Teichmiller (Penny) of Fultondale, AL; stepchildren, Jim Keeling (Donna) of Huntsville, AL; Katharine Spann (Leighton) of Starkville, MS; David Keeling of West Virginia; brother, Charles Evans (Fran) of Grant, AL; sister, Betty Chambers (Jay Kinder) of Miramar Beach, FL; thirteen grandchildren, Evan and Brackin Kirkland, William, Sara and Jackson Teichmiller, Viva and Levi Tuanama, Sarah Keeling, Allison Lavender, Maggie Rockett, Cameron Spann, Caroline Pochop, and Faith Bullard; and six great grandchildren.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jean’s honor to either First Baptist Church Athens, AL or St. Jude Children’s Hospital at the following link: http://giftfunds.stjude.org/JeanKeeling