Mary Edna Keplar

Mary Edna Keplar, December 2, 1945 – May 3, 2026

Mary Edna Keplar, 80, of Amarillo, passed peacefully on May 3, 2026, surrounded by the love and memories of a life beautifully lived. Born on December 2, 1945, in Kansas City to Juanita Elizabeth Crain and Edwin Hunter Day, Mary was truly one of a kind. Ornery, quiet, feisty, fiercely independent, and unforgettable to everyone blessed enough to know her.

Mary never liked asking anyone for help. She carried herself with strength, stubbornness, and pride, choosing instead to quietly handle life in her own way. That independent spirit defined her, but beneath it was a woman with a deeply loving heart and a devotion to family that never wavered.

She spent 21 years working faithfully at Sam's Club. After retiring, Mary quickly decided retirement simply was not for her and went on to work another 10 years at the gas station of H-E-B. She believed in staying busy and doing things for herself, right up until the very end.

Mary loved life’s simple joys, baking for those she loved, listening to audiobooks, playing games on her phone, cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs, and spending cherished time with her beloved dog, Otis. But some of the greatest memories she gave her family came through summer road trips filled with laughter, stories, and the little things only a grandma could do.

Above all else, Mary loved her husband, Frank William Keplar, her “Honey.” The two were married on November 10, 1984, and shared 30 years of love so rare and enduring it felt like something from a fairy tale. Yellow roses were always their symbol; a reflection of the warmth and devotion they carried for one another. Frank William was her Honey, and Mary was his angel. Their love is everlasting.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Juanita Elizabeth Crain and Edwin Hunter Day; her brother, Robert Day; her beloved husband, Frank William Keplar; her sons, Gary Keplar, James Keplar, and Steve Keplar; and her daughter, Annetta Swart.

Those left to cherish her memory include her brother, James Day and wife Jo Lynn Day of Parkville, Missouri; her son, Frank David Keplar and wife Melanie Keplar; her grandchildren, Stephen Swart, Terri Swart, Heather Keplar, and Amber Keplar; one great-grandchild, Brooklynn Carter; and her dear best friend, Janet Hodge of San Angelo.

Though our hearts ache in her absence, we find comfort knowing Mary is once again where she belongs, reunited with her Honey. We will never forget her laughter, her stubborn spirit, her quiet strength, and the countless memories she gave so freely to those she loved.

Graveside services for Mary Edna Keplar will be held Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 14200 I-27, Amarillo, Texas, 79119.

Yellow roses will forever remind us that true love never fades.