Sylvia Helen Keller

Sylvia Helen Keller entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 26th, 2017. Sylvia was born on November 4th, 1933 in Berkeley, California to Ernest and Helen Wright. In 1936 her sister, Sharon, was born completing the family. Her early years were spent in Lincoln, Nebraska. Shortly after the start of World War II the family moved to Portland, Oregon. Sylvia graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice and participated in choir at Lincoln. She sang solos and in the choir at her church throughout her life.

Sylvia married her special one and only, James L. Keller and they shared nearly 60 years of marriage before his passing in 2011. They had a daughter, Julie, and a son, Ron.

Sylvia worked as an executive secretary in the Trust Department of First National Bank and participated in the move to the new bank building in 1972 – at that time the tallest building in Portland. She also worked as her church’s secretary for many years while devoting the majority of her time to her family and grandmothering. Her grandchildren always looked forward to her visits and loved their time with her.

Sylvia enjoyed gardening and was an excellent seamstress. She and Jim also adopted several dogs needing a home over the years, and they all enjoyed their walks together.

Sylvia is survived by her daughter, Julie Geates and son in law, Bill; her son, Ron and daughter in law Leslie; six grandchildren – Julie’s three children, Pamela Howser and husband Christopher, Melinda Litke and husband Terry, and Robert Geates and wife Leah; Ron’s three children, Joshua Keller, Jacob Keller, and Justine Keller; and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and her husband, Jim.