Born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, her parents separated when she was three and her dad died a few years later. Her mom had to work and she had no adult supervision. She didn't worry because she could see the cafe from where they lived and townsfolk kept tabs on her. Her mom remarried when she was nine and they would move 10 times during her school years!

She loved to read and learn new things. She met her husband of 58 years when she was 13 and he was 15. In high school she worked at a cafe and as a church secretary, and after graduating she worked for an insurance company maintaining computer systems. She married soon after graduating and had four children who survive her: Michael Lewis Kelly (Dorene Kelly), Diana Kay Kelly (Mary Baldwin), Dale Anthony Kelly (Rose Kelly), and Willow Kelly (TJ Crow.)

In her husband's 28 1/2 year career as an Air Force officer they were stationed in many places including Texas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana, Canada, Belgium, and Holland! After his Air Force career, he worked for Hughes aircraft and they lived one year in Pakistan and three years in Germany.

She always loved globes and maps and enjoyed locating countries involved in current news stories. She was especially proud of her involvement in the “Terrific Kids” program, visiting grade schools and giving the children esteem building recognition. Always active in the United Methodist Church, she spearheaded the creation of the “Faith Journey” group whose mission was to get to know members, support and love one another, and reach out to needy persons in the community. Her stellar spiritual leadership was recognized by award from The Corona Norco Interfaith Association.

Her wisdom, wit and kindness will live on in all who were lucky enough to know her.

Gone From My Sight – Henry VanDyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...