Nadya Louise Clark Keller

Nadya Louise Clark Keller,age 76, of Natchitoches, LA, passed away Friday, December 25, 2009 at her home in Natchitoches, surrounded by her family, after a long battle with cancer. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, La where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. this Monday, December 28, 2009. The funeral service will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2009 with Reverend Kathy Muder officiating. Services in Hays, Kansas will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 2, 2010 in the Brocks North Hill Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am until service time. Interment will follow the service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hays, Kansas where she will be laid to rest next to her parents. Nadya enjoyed a rewarding career as a Biochemistry Professor at Northwestern State University and was a founding Professor of the LA Scholars College. She was a Lounsberry Endowed Professor and Professor Emeritus. She has an award fund bearing her name, through the NSU Alumni Foundation titled “Dr. Nadya Keller Award” to recognize the student with the best paper in the Science III Seminar each year. Nadya was the daughter of the late Vernon Clark and late Lois Needels Clark. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Searight and her husband L.R. Henry Searight, M.D. of Hiawatha, KS and by her son, Kevin Keller and his wife, Alyson F. Keller of Charlotte, NC. Nadya had four grandchildren; Maggie Searight, Randall Searight, Paige Keller and Kyle Keller. She has one surviving sister, Juanita Bretz of Durant, OK. Her wish was for friends to help fund the scholarship that bears her name, in lieu of sending flowers.