Myrtle Virginia Keltie

Myrtle Virginia Keltie passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at the Mitchell Hollingsworth Nursing and Rehab Center in Florence, Alabama. She was born to James Monroe and Francis Elizabeth Denton in Essex, Missouri on September 22, 1924, our mother grew up in the "Boot Heel" of Missouri. Her lifetime interests were homemaking, gardening, writing and teaching Bible classes. Mom's first job was at Woolworth's deli. Other jobs were at a boot factory and a shirt factory, where she was promoted to floor manager. Mom met John Adam Keltie at a family reunion, and a year later, they met again and began dating when our Dad had three-day passes from Army duties. They married on May 19, 1944, and Mom later moved to California where Dad was stationed at Fort Ord. She also got a job making tents for our troops overseas. After the war, our parents settled in St. Louis and began raising a family of four girls. During those years, Dad attended Bible studies in Alton, Illinois where he was called as pastor for People's Baptist Church for 18 years. While in Alton, their fifth daughter was born and a few years later, their only son. Our Mom was Dad's prayer partner, best friend and sweetheart. Each evening when he came home, she'd greet him with a kiss. We children remember Mom's ability to care for a family of eight during good times and hard times, her soothing hand on a feverish brow, her joy in turning our yard into a canvas of colorful beauty, her ability as a seamstress, wonderful cook and devoted homemaker. She was the heart of our home. Mom received her GED in the 1970's and graduated from a four-year Bible College at age 53. When Daddy died in 1991, she wrote a pamphlet about her grief experience. Even in her loss, she found comfort in helping others. Later, she moved to Leighton, Alabama near her daughter, joined Faith Missionary Baptist Church and was teacher for a ladies' class. The last surviving member of a blended family, Mom had six older half-brothers: Thomas, Henry, Milburn and Jessie (Denton), and Hubert and John (Clayton), and seven older half-sisters: Beulah, Pearl and Dorothy (Denton) and Oma, Leona, and Blanch (Clayton), along with Sarah, a sister who died in infancy. She also had two younger brothers: James and Wilson Denton. Immediate family includes a loving husband, John Adam Keltie (deceased, 1991) and six living children: Marilyn, Brenda, Janet, Beverly, Nancy and Jonathan. She has 16 grandchildren, (including Kimberly in heaven), and 29 great-grandchildren. A special thanks to Liley Funeral Home for their kind assistance during our loss. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 8, 2018 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill, MO. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:30 AM Saturday, September 8, 2018 at the Funeral Home with Pastor Phillip Potter, Pastor Matthew Ellis and Jonathan Keltie officiating. Burial will be in the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery, near Marble Hill, MO.

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Myrtle Virginia Keltie

September 22, 1924 - September 1, 2018