Donald Franklin Keller, peacefully passed away Saturday, September 5, 2026. He was 93 years old. Donald was a lifetime resident of New Hope in the Hebron Community. For the past 7 years, he and his recently deceased wife Emily, have lived in Clanton, Alabama.
Mr. Keller was a member of First Baptist Church of New Hope and a beloved father and grandfather.
Raised in the post-depression years, Donald learned at an early age how to hunt, fish, and plant and grow a garden from his grandfather Pa Cap Smith. When he graduated high school in 1951, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing basic training in Parris Island, he was selected to attend training to repair track vehicles. He excelled in his training and made such high scores that he was promoted, skipping the rank of Corporal, to the rank of Sergeant. He was then deployed to Korea, where he served the remaining years of his service.
After his honorable discharge, he was accepted into a machinist apprenticeship program at Redstone Arsenal. Gifted in math and mechanics, he quickly picked up the trade and stayed employed there until he took a job teaching machine shop at Marshall Technical School. He completed his formal career by working as the Director of the North Alabama Skills Center.
Donald enjoyed gardening, both vegetables and flowers, as well as farming on a larger scale. He loved working on and trading cars and repairing small engines, a passion he passed on to both his sons. His life was devoted in service to his profession and his family. He was the primary caregiver to his beloved wife, Emily, and took great pleasure caring for his menagerie of cats and wildlife.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Emily Jean Prince, his daughter, Donna Jean Keller Mefford, his nephew Terris Prince, his parents, Lester and Alma Keller, and his brothers, Kirt Keller and David Keller. Loving survivors include his children, Frank (Phylanne)Keller of Biloxi, Mississippi, Bruce (Marsha) Keller of Clanton, Alabama, and Susan (Mark) Yenney of Gainesville, Georgia, his brother Gary Keller of New Hope, Alabama, his sister Brenda Chamlee of Arab, Alabama, 12 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and special nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be conducted Saturday, Sept 19 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation at 12:00 pm at New Hope Funeral Home with Dr. Blue Bryan officiating. Burial will be in Walker Cemetery in Hebron. Pallbearers are Dana Keller, Rick Keller, Jeremy Cantrell, Jerred Cantrell, Jeffrey Cantrell, and Ramsey Prince.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hebron Cemetery Fund. 215 Schnault Hollow Rd., Grant, Alabama 35747.
www.nhfh.net
