Keith Stephen Feltz, 72, of Maryville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 22 after a brief battle with cancer.
Mr. Feltz was born on Oct. 19, 1953, to Edgar and Helen Nesslein Feltz and grew up in Perryville, Mo. He graduated from Perryville High School in 1972 and from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1977 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Mr. Feltz moved to Oak Ridge after his college graduation and worked at the K-25 plant in Oak Ridge before moving to Maryville in 1986. He married Angela McMurray in 1988.
Mr. Feltz, who was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, followed the four facets of parish life: learn, pray, serve, and belong!
He spent many years in volunteer service to God through his involvement in parish ministries. He was faithful and knowledgeable in holy Scripture and led and assisted in Share the Word (an adult Bible study) between Masses, and as the need arrived for a high-school faith formation teacher, Mr. Feltz stepped up. He assisted with the RCIA program as well as continuing in religious education, and Bible studies, and eventually assisted with the current faith-formation program for men called “That Man Is You!”
Mr. Feltz was a facilitator over the years of different programs promoted throughout the Diocese of Knoxville: Renew International and Why Catholic to name just two. He facilitated learning and assisted others in learning their faith with devotion. He also assisted in faith formation at St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville when that parish had a need for a confirmation teacher. He attended Cursillo and served on many teams encouraging other men to a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mr. Feltz participated in eucharistic adoration at Our Lady of Fatima for years. He was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and regularly attended Saturday-morning Masses. He enjoyed spending the liturgical seasons with God by joining in the Stations of the Cross and the rosary. He also participated in pro-life activities by joining others in praying at abortion clinics in Knoxville. He would also pray at the Life Chain in Blount County.
Mr. Feltz volunteered as a Boy Scout leader in Oak Ridge and Alcoa, assisting with teaching camping, hiking, canoeing, and other skills to the young boys he was serving. He was an active member of a parish program to assist other parishioners called the “St. Joseph Helpers.” He would help anyone who asked with repairs of lawnmowers, washers and dryers, and other things that needed the expertise of his mechanical knowledge.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and joined in many ministries of service, including the comfort food ministry, which provides a meal to comfort families following a funeral Mass. He was always behind the scenes in the parish with the never-ending task of washing dishes after many meals over the years. He also was a community volunteer who assisted with the Community Food Connection of Blount County and was always available to pick up food for the organization’s annual food drives.
Mr. Feltz found a place where he belonged. Over the 40 years that he has attended Our Lady of Fatima, he met and has known many wonderful people who became lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Michael, and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Angela; three children, Derrick (Natalie) McMurray, Adam McMurray, and Andrea McMurray, all of Maryville; four grandchildren, Chloe McMurray of Newberry, S.C., Marley McMurray of Oak Ridge, and Boone and Bayler McMurray of Maryville; two brothers, Donald (Shirley) of Fredericktown, Mo., and Kevin (Jean) of Columbia, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Feltz was an example of Christian life. In his life, he truly lived the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me.”
A funeral Mass for Mr. Feltz was celebrated on April 1 followed by inurnment in the Our Lady of Fatima columbarium.
Donations in Mr. Feltz’s memory may be made to Our Lady of Fatima Parish’s Martha’s Hands or the comfort food ministry of which he served faithfully. Our Lady of Fatima, 858 Louisville Road, Alcoa, TN 37701