Merlein Snooky Keller

Obituary For Merlein Snooky Keller

Merlein “Snooky” Keller was born in Quay, NM on June 11, 1930. She was the 4th child of 6 born to Doc T. and Viola Cast. She died of natural causes in T. or C., NM on March 27, 2021. She was predeceased by husband, Bill (2014) and son Robin (2016). She is survived by her daughter, Teva Johnson (Daryl); Granddaughter, Shauna Lopez (Frankie); 4 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild. Merlein is also survived by her very special “daughter- in – Christ” Kim Winkler; as well as her dear “Musical Amigo” Berry Cox.

Merlein was always very good at anything she set her mind to; starting with her childhood, where she did so well academically, she passed 2 grades in one year- twice! This earned her a full scholarship to a business college in Albuquerque. It was not long after arriving in Albuquerque, that Merlein met the love of her life and soul mate, Bill Keller, while at a dance. They would marry a year later on August of 1948. Their life together lasted 66 ½ years. Throughout their marriage, they were avid square dancers that enjoyed traveling to festivals all over the USA. They went on a lot of these trips with several other couples that also square danced. Over the years the group traveled to every state in the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii (twice) in their RV, frequently with their boat in tow. While Snooky never enjoyed getting in the water that much, she loved driving their boats, which is a good thing, because Bill water skied until he was 85 years old! The family also enjoyed camping as well as country and ballroom dancing. The Kellers were beautiful dancers, and many couples would clear the floor just so they could watch them dance. They were also fortunate enough to travel to England, Western Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Merlein’s other interest included crochet and sewing. She was an excellent seamstress and her beautiful creations always got lots of compliments! She was also an avid reader. Within days of graduating business college in 1948, Snooky was hired by Sandia National Labs. She quickly rose up the ranks there until she was promoted to be the top administrative assistant in the field-testing division. A position, that required top level security clearance. During the 1960’s she left Sandia Labs to work for Albuquerque Public Schools, so that she could be home in the afternoons for her 2 young children. During her time at APS, Merlein held various secretarial positions at Monroe and McKinley Junior Highs and Manzano High School. In 1970, Snooky returned to work at Sandia National Labs where she resumed her work as an administrative assistant in various divisions but mostly marketing.

It was due to her great financial acumen and decisions (Merlein always handled the family’s finances) that both Merlein and Bill were able to retire early, at the same time (Sept. 1985) from Sandia Labs. They enjoyed a long and very happy and comfortable retirement; living where they loved, going where they loved and doing all they loved!

From the late 1940’s until the late 1960’s, the Keller’s lived in the Albuquerque NE Heights. They then moved to a beautiful large home in the east Sandia Mountains. A few years after retirement, they became “Snowbirds” and started to spend their winters at the Islander RV resort in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Then in the mid 1990’s they moved from their Sandia Mountain home to Elephant Butte Lake. How they loved their “Kamp Keller” property on Catfish Road right off the lake! By around the early 2000’s they stopped snowbirding in AZ and lived year-round in Elephant Butte.

No description of Merlein’s life would be complete without mentioning her great ability as a piano player. Snooky was self-taught, starting when she was a young child, tall enough to reach the keyboard. Her only training was from a music teacher who showed her how to play cords with her left hand. By high school, she was playing in various bands in the Tucumcari area. Throughout her lifetime, she enjoyed playing her electric keyboard or pianos for all night jam sessions, parties, weddings, and other celebrations. She was frequently asked to play at the last minute for these occasions (including funerals). Ever gracious, she always accepted! Over the years Snooky played at 4 churches- one in the Sandia Mountains, one in Lake Havasu and locally at the Church at the Butte and Fellowship Alliance Church, which she played at the longest- almost 18 years! She and Bill both loved the “Little- country church” atmosphere Pastor Bill and Kim Winkler created. Having such a close-knit church community to lean on when Bill passed was a real blessing for her.

Following Bill’s passing, Merlein moved to the Sierra Hills Assisted Loving Center, where she remained until her own passing. But she continued to play for senior dances at the fiddler’s hall, as well as many charitable events and organizations in the T. or C. area.

Merlein received 3 special honors due to her music. The first was in the 1980’s when she was asked to play for the annual gatherings of the survivors of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The next was in 2003, when she was asked to make a CD for the UNM music Department’s Music Preservation Project of the Fiddler’s and Musician’s of New Mexico. The third honor was her induction into the Old Time Fiddler’s Hall of Fame in T. or C., as an accompanist in the early 2000’s.

It was important to note that Snooky never asked t o be paid for her playing. She felt that her ability was truly a gift from God and since she never had to pay a lot for lessons, that it wouldn’t be right to charge for her time.

The last year of Merlein’s life was difficult for her, being such a social person, the isolation due to the Covid-19 quarantine was hard for her. With the loving care provided to her by the staff at Sierra Hills, she was able to deal with the pandemic as she always had all the other difficult times in her life: with grit, wit, concern for others and with a hopeful outlook to the future.

Snooky was a very special and beloved member of the T. or C. community. Her wonderful spirit and music will be greatly missed.

Memorial Service Update: Services for Merlein will be held Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 11:30 A.M. at Fellowship Alliance Church (1601 E. 6th Avenue).

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