John Martin Keller

Johnny Martin Keller was born on June 20, 1947, in Paris, AR. At a young age John’s family moved to Des Arc, AR and he attended school there. During high school, he was an honor student and played football, basketball, and baseball, especially excelling in football. Before his junior year, his father bought a business in Weiner, AR and relocated the family there. However, John was allowed to live with his football coach in Des Arc so that he could play football in his Junior and Senior year. He always enjoyed reminiscing about his football career. After high school graduation, he attended Henderson State University and married Donna Campbell. In 1967, he joined the US Army and eventually served in Vietnam as a chaplains’ assistant. After returning home from the military, he and Donna began their family, welcoming two daughters, Kristina and Jennifer. John had a successful career as a sales representative with different companies. He genuinely enjoyed the people he met through his work, forming many lasting friendships along the way. In 1977, he married Delores Ayers and the couple made their home in Baton Rouge, LA. During their years there, he developed a love for Cajun cuisine and became quite skilled at preparing it himself—fortunate were those who had the chance to enjoy his delicious gumbo and étouffée. His career took him to many towns, including Ft. Smith, AR, and Lubbock, TX, but his favorite was Huntsville, TX, where he and Delores built many connections, developed strong ties to the community, became fans of Sam Houston State University, and enjoyed following the football team. Eventually, he proudly considered himself a Texan. Sadly, in 2010 Delores passed away after battling cancer. In 2012, John retired and moved to Somerville, TN to be close to his daughters. In 2018, he was introduced by a former coworker and good friend to Annette Walcher Herren. After a brief courtship, they were married in Cordell, OK. Eventually, they found their way to Guthrie, OK, where they enjoyed life with great neighbors, their loving church family at First Christian Church, and John’s acquaintances of the local American Legion. Some of John’s favorite pastimes included following sports teams such as the Arkansas Razorbacks, Texas Tech Raiders, and the Sam Houston State Bearkats. He loved all types of music, enjoyed attending concerts, and had an extensive CD collection, which he continued to add to even after CDs went out of style. John passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Annette, along with the loving “bonus family” that came with her; his daughters, Kristina Lyles and her husband Layne of Collierville, TN, and Jennifer Bradford and her husband Derek of Somerville, TN; his grandchildren, Kristiana Chancy and her husband Olan of Brooklyn, NY, and Makenzie Bradford of Fayetteville, AR; his sisters, Sharon Williams and her husband Charlie of Ft. Smith, AR, and Karen Ballard and her husband Danny of Roland, AR; his brother, Don Keller and his wife Judy of Supply, NC; and sisters-in-law, Karen Elaine Keller of Owensboro, KY and Brenda Keller of Clarksdale, MS, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Amma Keller, and his brothers, Bob and Bill Keller. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Funeral services for John will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the First Christian Church, located at 402 East Noble Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st Street, Guthrie, OK 73044. A graveside service and interment will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Mayes Addition of Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, TX. Services are under the direction of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. Memorial condolences may be made to the family online at www.shmfh.com

John Martin Keller

June 20, 1947 - October 4, 2025