Sara Elizabeth Simmers Keller, age 87 of Port Deposit, MD and Lake Placid, FL died at Christiana Care Health Services on Wednesday, January 30, 2013. Mrs. Keller was born on July 6, 1925 in Fremont, PA to the late Harvey and Estella Kirkwood Simmers.

Mrs. Keller was a 1942 graduate of Rising Sun High School and attended Beacom College, Wilmington, DE where she was inducted into the Gallery of Distinguished Alumni in 1982. Mrs. Keller retired from Federal Service in 1985 after 42 years of service. She held the positions of Assistant Supply & Fiscal Officer, US Naval Training Center and Comptroller, PAMI CONUS, Bainbridge, MD, Comptroller, PERMIC, New Orleans, LA prior to transferring to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where she held the position of Financial Manager for the AEHA at Edgewood, MD. She was an associate member of the Bainbridge Officer’s Mess (Open) and past-president of the Chesapeake Chapter, American Society of Military Comptrollers. Among the numerous awards for exceptional performance, Mrs. Keller received the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal. She was also awarded the US Navy’s Plank Owners Certificate for her work in relocating four geographically polarized naval activities to establish a centralized navy personnel accounting facility in New Orleans, LA.

Following her retirement from federal service, Mrs. Keller held the position of Comptroller for an international consulting firm in Bel Air, MD and traveled extensively in business dealings with foreign countries. Later she was General Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Motor Coach dealership in Perryville, MD.

In Cecil County, MD, she was President of Taxpayers for Good Government and a member of the 1989 Cecil County Governmental Task Force studying the commissioner, code and charter form of government. She followed the findings of subsequent study groups and the vote to change to charter government as recommended by the original task force. She served on the governor’s task force studying the real estate closing costs in MD.

A motorhome enthusiast, Mrs. Keller served as President of the Eastern Monaco Chapter of the Family Motorcoach Association for several years and was a member of the Swinging Golfers, Monaco International, Capital and South-east Apollo chapters. Mrs. Keller also served as President of the Camp Florida Resort Property Owners Association in Lake Placid, FL.

Mrs. Keller is survived by Russell, her husband of 65 years, her son Ronald and wife Shannon, grandchildren Ericka, Sasha, Ryan, four great-grandchildren and brother Wm Earl Simmers of Rising Sun, MD. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Keller was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Allyn, her brothers, Clyde K. Simmers and H. Ernest Simmers.

A memorial service will be held 11 AM on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1072 Ebenezer Church Road, Rising Sun, MD 21911. Friends and family may visit one hour prior. Memorial contributions can be made to Ebenezer UMC c/o the funeral home.