Ula Keeler, 96, of Vestaburg, passed away at her home with family by her side on Friday, July 3, 2026. Ula Mae Carrick was born on December 1, 1929, in Mount Morris, to parents Frank and Mildred. At a young age, Ula’s family moved to the Vestaburg area, where she grew up and graduated with the class of 1948 from Vestaburg High School. She started her career teaching in Wyman for one year and then drove school bus for Head Start and Vestaburg Community Schools for 14 years. Ula was a caring and wonderful woman. She married Harold Nokes on June 15, 1949, and they spent 23 years together before his passing in 1973. Later, she married David Cutler in 1979, until his passing in 1983. Then, she married Al Keeler in 1984, and they spent 32 precious years together before his passing in 2016. Ula was a member of the Cornerstone Worship Center and active in garden club at Rock Lake and involved in Royal Neighbors in Sumner. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, crafting, gardening, flowers, camping, fishing, and horseback riding

Ula will be missed by her son, Mike (Rachel) Nokes of Barryton; stepchildren Linda (Jerry) Kilmer of Vestaburg, Don (Faith) Keeler of Arizona, Stan (Valorie) Keeler of Missouri, and Mark (Cheryl) Keeler of Byron Center, 16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and 9 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Vanessa Savage of Lake City, Florida, and Linda Anderson of Mount Pleasant; and brothers, Darrell (Virginia) Carrick New York, and Ernest (Cookie) Carrick of Belaire.

Ula was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; daughters Mary Ann Nokes, and Cheryl DeForest; son Carson Nokes; as well as sister Emma; and brothers Kenneth, Russell, Richard, Gordon, and Melvin.

A funeral for Ula will be held at Cornerstone Worship Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM with Pastor Don Wolf officiating. Family will greet friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Memorial contributions in Ula and Papa Al’s memory can be made to Cornerstone Worship Center PO Box 535 Vestaburg, MI 48891. A truly special place for Ula and Al as they helped to start and build the church in 2000 with Pastors Don and Ernestine Wolf. Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Janowicz Family Funeral Home in Edmore.