Darrel L Keller

Darrel L. Keller, 79, of Parsons, passed away in his home at 7:53 a.m., Tuesday, October 13, 2020, in the loving arms of his wife and love of his life, Mary Ann, and surrounded by his family and friends.

Darrel Leon Keller was born on September 30, 1941, to Willard F. and Faye (Short) Keller in Hockerville, Oklahoma. As a young boy, he grew up and attended school in the Hockerville area. In 1957, he graduated from Quapaw High School in Quapaw, Oklahoma, at the age of 16.

Darrel moved to Parsons in 1961 and began working at FoodTown Grocery Store until the store closed in July 1974. In September 1974, Darrel moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A few months later, he returned to Parsons and married Mary Ann Lewis on November 13, 1974. Darrel worked at the Flesh Company for 45 years until his retirement.

Darrel grew up in the Hockerville Baptist Church and was baptized in Shoal Creek in the Galena, Kansas area. An avid outdoorsman, Darrel was a member of the Parsons Bowhunters and Professional Bowhunters Society and served as president of the Parsons Bowhunters and the Kansas Bowhunters Association. The highlight of his adventures was a backpacking trip up into the Grand Tetons with his wife and friends, the Hambletons. It was an awesome two night and three-day trip of a lifetime. One of his first archery hunts was with Red McGlothlin, who is known as the father of archery in Arizona. Over the years, Darrel archery hunted in Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Texas, Arizona and Kansas.

"The Mountains are Calling and I Must Go" was the motto of Darrel and Mary Ann. They vacationed in the mountains every year. After retirement, the trips were more frequent, including a trip to Luther Lodge facing the back side of Long's Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, with the Wilson's. Spectacular!

Survivors include:

His wife – Mary Ann Keller, of the home

Two sisters-in-law – Jean Keller Lowe of Globe, Arizona

Margaret (Marge) LaRue of Kingman, Kansas

Two nephews – Mike Keller and his wife, Nancy, of Mesa, Arizona

Gary Keller of Safford, Arizona

Five great nephews and nieces

Seven great-great nephews and nieces

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Duane Keller, and a baby sister, Carol Keller; and Joanna Wilson's dog, Sophie.

The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2020, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will immediately follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Parsons. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday. The funeral service can be viewed live on the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home Facebook page. For all events, social distancing guidelines will be followed, including the requirement of face masks.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Arboretum, Proud Animal Lovers Shelter (PALS), or Calvary Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.