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Mazie-Jean (Searls) Keller, 83
Mazie-Jean (Searls) Keller passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, one day after her 83rd birthday. Mazie had been ill for several years and passed away following a steep decline a year after her husband, Clint’s, death last December.
Mazie was born in Junction City, Kan., to parents Sylvia Eva (Ailers) Searls and Floyd Lyle Searls. She was raised there along with younger brother Richard, graduating from Junction City High School in 1951. She then attended Brown Mackie College.
Mazie worked her whole life, starting at age 12 as a movie usher. Following school, she was a secretary for an attorney, and then began a career at Fort Riley headquarters in the G-1 section. It was at Fort Riley that she met the love of her life, Clint Keller. They eventually moved to Idaho and were married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1961. They remained in Idaho for a time, living in Bonners Ferry and Moscow. The couple later moved to Pullman, Wash., where both worked the majority of their careers at Washington Stage University and raised their family. Mazie worked in several departments, including French Ad and the Honors Department, but starting in 1974 spent the rest of her working life as a medical transcriptionist in the Radiology Department at the Veterinary School.
Mazie had a strong work ethic and instilled that principle in her children and grandchildren. Mom was an avid reader and a huge movie fan, and she especially adored musicals. She loved to sing and was a member of the Presbyterian choir in Pullman and in Coeur d’Alene. She enjoyed taking many classes over the years including aikido, piano, tap dancing, and perhaps her most loved was yoga, which she started in the 1970s and practiced for more than 30 years. She was the sweetest mom and grandmother in the world and though she would not list cooking as one of her favorite activities, we all remember her homemade noodles and cinnamon rolls as fabulous! Her warmth, love and sense of humor will never be forgotten.
The couple raised three daughters, Margaret-Jean Behrmann (Fred) of Coeur d’Alene, and twins Elizabeth Ann Keller also of Coeur d’Alene and Katherine Olivia Phillips (Eric) of Spokane, Wash. Mazie also helped to raise her two oldest granddaughters, twins Ariana and Olivia.
Mazie lost both her parents and her beloved brother, Richard (Linnea Winter), many years ago. She is survived by her three daughters; grandchildren Ariana Day (Trevor), Olivia Dale (Josh), Kate and Theo Behrmann, and Elke and Beau Phillips; great-grandchildren Scarlett Day and Clinton Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Mazie’s life is being planned for Mother’s Day of this year.
Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Mazie’s memorial and sign her online guest book www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.