Rex Edward Keller, was born on October 10, 1923 in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life on March 4, 2020 in Redington Shores, Florida, at the age of 96 years.

Rex grew up in Dexter, Missouri.  His mother, Ola Keaton Keller, was a school teacher and taught him to value arts and education.  She was a tremendous influence on his life and so, when he became a successful businessman, he used his assets to build a public library in Dexter, Missouri in memory of his mother.  This happened more than 20 years ago.

Rex continued to support the library in Dexter and remained a patron throughout his life, dedicated to supporting arts and education.

In the 1940’s, during World War II, Rex was one of the persons selected to work on “The Manhatten Project” in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he, with his brother Keaton Keller, a physicist, participated in building the first atomic bomb.  Rex was assigned as a bomb technician.  The director of the project, Robert Oppenheimer, later wrote a letter of commendation to Rex acknowledging his excellent contribution to the project.

Following the war, Rex developed a cotton farm in Arizona and a fruit Farm in California.  He later worked in the financial area.

Rex never forgot the contributions made by soldiers to protecting their country.  In 2008, he built a memorial monument for fallen Dexter veterans “who made the supreme sacrifice for their country”.  The memorial is located in the library complex in Dexter.

Rex was married in 2009 to his wife Tatiana.  They settled in Redington Shores, Florida in 2011, where they lived for the remainder of his life.  He is survived by Tatiana and his step sons, Alexey and Konstantin, his daughter-in-law, Katherine and his grandchildren, Sofia and Lucas.

The original time for Mr. Keller’s memorial service has been postponed.  A new date and time will be set at a later date.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.