Shirley Willette (Hartzfeld) Kellar, 90, passed away quietly after an extended illness on August 17, 2014.
She was born January 28, 1924 in Bell Township in the old Bell Homestead that used to be on the corner of Route 119 and Airport Road near Punxsutawney, PA.
She was the daughter of the late William Godfrey and Gertrude (McCay) Hartzfeld.
Shirley was born and raised on a farm during the Great Depressiion which served, as it did many others, to mold her spirit and personality to one of true strength and perseverance. These were to serve her well throughout her life, especially when she was left as a young widow with two small children to raise and only an 8th grade education to lean on to make a living. But Shirley knew she could cook and so she went to work at Chango’s, C&S Dairy Mart. She worked there for many years as a waitress and short order cook.
Shirley was known for her excellent home cooking and loved to share her cooking with friends and family. She also loved to garden and to can the various fruits and vegetables that were harvested. This is something that was passed down from her mother to her and Shirley loved to teach others this craft.
Shirley is survived by a son, William (Bull) Kellar and his wife, Terri Neal Kellar, and grandson Kyle Straub of Punxsutawney; a daughter, Lynn Kellar, her husband Richard Bennett, and grandson Emrys Kellar Bennett of Dublin, OH. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, August Catalano of Punxsutawney and a sister-in-law Mrs. Maxine Hartzfeld of San Antonio, TX.
She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, too many to name.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, William Reed Kellar, and infant daughter, both parents, and seven brothers, Cecil (Tim), Howard, Dale (Dude), Raymond (Ray), Edgar and Lonnie and Loraine, both young children who perished in the great flu epidemic of 1918.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Punxsutawney.
One of Shirley’s greatest passions was her love of all creatures great and small, so the family has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Shirley’s name to the Gateway Humane Society in Falls Creek, Pa.
Friends will be received at the Richard L. Fait Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 from 5-8 and on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 from 9-11.
The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Paul Ritchey officiating.
Interment will follow in the Bowers Cemetery in Gaskill Township.
To send online conoldences visit www.faitfuneralhome.com.
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