Frances Kelly, age 91, died Saturday, April 16, 2016. A ceremony will be held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery on Monday, March 25, 2016 at 11:00 am. Any and all are welcome to attend.
She was born November 24, 1924 in Huntington, West Virginia and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio in her youth.
She joined the Women's Army Corps in 1944 after the death of her mother. There she met her husband, Asa Kelly, and they were married March 31, 1945. When she became pregnant she moved back to Huntington were she gave birth to her daughter. When her husband was discharged, the three of them traveled by train to Coopersville, Michigan. The rest of their children were born in Michigan. In total they had 5 children, Dianne Kelly (Dean), Bruce Kelly, Michael Kelly, Dale Kelly and Lynn Kelly.
In 1960, the family moved to the Chicago area, and in 1968 they took a Volkswagen camper, camping gear, three of their children and one niece on a trip west. They eventually settled in Silver City, New Mexico.
While her husband practiced law, Frances worked at a number of places in Silver City, the last being Exxon Minerals. Frances obtained her degree from Western New Mexico University and developed a passion for art. Asa died in 1998 they had been married for a total of 53 years. Frances then moved to the Good Samaritan Village in Las Cruces. She lived there sixteen years.
After Asa died Frances focused on her children, grandchildren (11), great grandchildren (16) and her art. She was particularly saddened when her oldest son Bruce passed away in 2011.
These brief facts do not address the kind of person she was. She occasionally complained about her shyness, but nevertheless formed many friends and maintained good relationships with her large family. Frances and Asa often gave people a helping hand, and one of those people commented, "Asa and Frances were wonderful people. They did more for my family than can ever be repaid. They will be missed." Additionally they cared for their disabled son, Michael.
Frances was a person who took extraordinary delight in so much: first and foremost people, but hobbies and interests as well--card games (she was a hot shot at poker), sewing, art, evolution, history, mystery novels, genealogy, and so on. She enjoyed repeating funny family stories.
At the age of 16 she bought a Kodak camera for $1, which she had until the early sixties. She had hundreds of photographs from the "black and white" days as well as the years after. Her children and all the extended families and friends will miss her.
Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, NM, 575-388-1911.
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