Melissa G. Keller

Melissa Gayle Pugh Keller was healed from her struggle with Alzheimer's disease on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. She was 86 years old.

Born on July 26, 1938 in Anawalt, WV, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Lee and Gladys Juanette (Jones) Pugh.

She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Peter Elroy Keller, son, Theron Pugh Keller, daughter Jennifer Juanette Keller Sayre (Michael), granddaughter, Hannah Renee Sayre, brothers Joel Ray Pugh (Claudia) and Ivan Duane Pugh, and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother, Marlin L. Pugh, his wife Delores, and grandson, Matthew David Sayre.

Melissa or Gayle (depending on when you came to know her) left the hills of southern West Virginia in 1960 for Alexandria, Virginia, were she met the young Army man who would become her husband in the Spring of 1961 at the Pilgrim Holiness Church.

She was a skilled seamstress, making custom draperies at home while raising her two children.

In 1976, the family moved to Dunnsville, Virginia, where she traded drapery-making for driving a school bus for Essex County, and working Saturdays at the Dunnsville Post Office, both jobs she held for many years, and which provided her with many friendships within the local community.

She was a member of the Remlik Wesleyan Church in Remlik, Virginia, where she occasionally played piano and organ for many years.

Melissa Gayle was blessed to remain in close contact with her family and many friends from throughout her life. She will be deeply missed by all.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 24th, 2024, from 6 to 8 PM at Faulkner Funeral Home, Marks-Bristow Chapel, Tappahannock, Virginia. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 25th, 2024, at 1 PM at Remlik Wesleyan Church, in Remlik, VA, with visitation beginning at Noon. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.