August 28, 2025, 87, Goldsboro —
Mary Frank Mooring Keller, 87, peacefully left us in the early morning hours of August, 28, 2025, due to a long decline from Alzheimer’s Disease. Although this cruel disease stole so much from her, it couldn’t take her beautiful smile, sparkle, spunk, or the love and knowledge of her deceased son Kirk or her daughter Renee’.
Mary Frank was born to Plunk Meadows Mooring and Ada Godwin Massey Mooring on March 31th 1938 in Goldsboro, NC. She married Robert Gene Keller and in her mid-thirties went back to school at Wayne Community College and worked very hard to get her degree as a registered nurse while nurturing her 12 and 14 year old children. A generous lady with a compassionate and caring heart, she had found her calling. Her career began in the Goldsboro City Schools in the government funded Follow thru Program that allowed her to love and care for our inner city children in the school system. She then had an opportunity to take her social work type of nursing to an Industrial level at Barry of Goldsboro loving and caring for the health needs of over 200 women. When the plant shut down, she followed her heart to psychiatric nursing at Cherry Hospital where most of her early years there were served in staff development, however after quite a few years her need to connect directly with the patients drew her to serve as a unit nurse back on the floor.
Mary Frank was deeply devoted to those with special needs and was widely recognized as one of the dedicated volunteers among the group of women who pioneered the efforts behind Edgewood Developmental School. This remarkable school provided years of compassionate service, supporting children with developmental and learning disabilities and offering hope to their families.
Her passion however was always her family. She is survived by her daughter Renee’ Keller Stewart and husband Dave; her grandchildren, Sydney Tompkins and husband Justin, Spencer Mitchell and husband Adam, Braeden Stewart, and Riley Stewart; her great-grandchildren, Teagan Kennedy, Nolan Mitchell, Lydia Tompkins, Lumi Mitchell and Elowen Mitchell. She is also survived by her lifelong childhood and high school friends “The Galivanting Grannies”.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Kirk Keller; her great-grandson, Graham Edward Mitchell; and her sister, Jerry Bell Joyner and nephew John Bell.
The family will receive friends on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro. A service to honor her life will be held in the chapel at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Patrick Muston officiating. Inurnment will conclude at Wayne Memorial Park in Dudley.
The family would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff of Navion of Goldsboro that for the last three years. They have shown her great love and respect while helping carry her through the many obstacles that came with her illness and to the compassionate team from Gentiva Hospice, whose love and care carried not only Mary Frank but also Renee’ through her decline.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Gentiva Hospice, 2309 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
