Virtie Lavawn Keller

VIRTIE LAVAWN KELLER Memorial services Virtie Lavawn Keller will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 14 at Madison House. Pastor Paul Houston of New Life Assembly will officiate. Lavawn was born on November 26, 1920 in Taylor, Ark. to H. Dayton Vines and Virtie E. (Burns) Vines. She passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Madison House in Cortez, Colo. where she had been a resident for three years. Lavawn married Glenn Holder in 1934 in Houston, Tex. They had two sons, Winborn and Lewis. This marriage ended in divorce. She later married O'Dell "Buckshot" Davis in Needles, Calif. The couple then moved to Barstow, Calif. where Buckshot worked for the AT&SF Railroad and Lavawn was a waitress at various restaurants. This marriage also ended in divorce. In 1958 Lavawn married Barney Keller. Barney was very active in politics in Barstow and was a City Councilman for 20 years and Mayor for 16 years. Lavawn continued to be a homemaker and a hostess at the Steakeaters Restaurant for many years. Barney died in 1997. Lavawn lived in Barstow, Calif. for almost 60 years before moving to Mancos in 2001 to be near her son and his family. Lavawn loved doing crafts and was an avid collector of many things, including insulators, date nails, arrowheads, purple glass and stamps. She loved going out in the desert to see what she could add to her various collections. Surviving Lavawn are her son, Winborn "Windy" Davis and his wife, Mary of Mancos; sister, Lavelle Betz of Anchorage, Alaska; seven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Barney; her son, Lewis Davis; sister, Billie Jo McLemore; stepson, Kenny Keller; and great granddaughter, Tamara Wallstead. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to Madison House Assisted Living, 120 S. Madison St., Cortez, Colo. 81321 or to Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321.