Mrs. Dixie Lou (Shears) Keleher, 66, devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away at 10:48 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 in the Jane Phillips Medical Center following an extended illness.

An Oklahoma native, Dixie Lou Shears was born at Hinton in Caddo County on April 15, 1938. She was the daughter of William Theodore and Mildred Emily (Dahlenburg) Shears. Dixie was reared and received her education in the Anadarko, Okla. schools and was graduated Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 1955 from the Anadarko High School. Dixie attended the Southwestern State College School of Pharmacy at Weatherford, Okla. and received her degree in Pharmacy in 1959. She was one of the first women to graduate from the School of Pharmacy at Southwestern State College. Dixie was a licensed pharmacist in the states of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Texas.

Dixie and Daniel Joseph Keleher were married at the Holy Family Church in Anadarko on September 10, 1960. In May 1975 she and Dan moved to Bartlesville and purchased the United Outdoor Advertising Company and established the Keleher Outdoor Advertising Company. She worked along with her husband to build the present company, while at the same time working as a full time pharmacist and raising their six children. Dixie was known as the “Chairman of the Board” of the family business as well as at home. She retired from the H&G Pharmacy in Bartlesville, but continued relief pharmacy work after her retirement at various pharmacies in Bartlesville. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, family and grandchildren. Dixie was also a wonderful caretaker to her mother and her sister, Karen.

Dixie was a member of the St. James Community Catholic Church; served on the board of directors of the Bartlesville Symphony Society and the Family Crisis and Counseling Center in Bartlesville.

Memorials have been established, and those who wish may forward their gifts to the Bartlesville Cancer Center in care of the Bluestem Medical Foundation, 3500 E. Frank Phillips, Bartlesville, Okla. 74006; or to Mary Martha Outreach, 417 SW 8th St., Bartlesville, Okla. 74003.

Dixie is survived by her husband of over 43 years, Daniel Joseph Keleher, Sr. of the Bartlesville home; a son, Daniel J. “Danny” Keleher, Jr. and his wife, Janie of Bartlesville; five daughters, Rita K. Mohler and her husband Chris, Denver, Colorado, Theresa A. Merrifield and her husband, Mike, Bartlesville, Stephanie J. Lightle and her husband Grant, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Catherine M. Lee and her husband, Colin, Bixby, Okla. and Barbara J. Garbarino and her husband, Capt. Robert Garbarino, Ft. Polk, Louisiana; her 12 grandchildren, Abbie Nicholas, and Katie Keleher, Benjamin, Ryan and Sophia Mohler, Alex and Jenna Merrifield, Rhianna and Cade Lightle, and Mason and Savannah Lee; her mother Mrs. Mildred E. Shears, Bartlesville; and her brother, Marlin Shears and his wife, Donna, Beeville, Texas. Preceding her in death were her father; and sister, Karen Sue Shears.