Velma M. Kelley
Velma M. Kelley, 98, died Tuesday (Jan. 4, 2005) at Friendly Acres Retirement Community in Newton.
She was born Nov. 5, 1906, to Thomas Sherman and Letha Jane (Morrow) Pippin in Marshfield County, Mo. They preceded her in death. She married Leonard James Kelley Jan. 23, 1926, in Fredonia. He preceded her in death March 22, 1973.
She attended public schools through the ninth grade. She became a bookkeeper for retail stores and co-owner and bookkeeper for Leonard Poultry an Egg in Wichita for many years. She was a member of the Rebecca's Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows and attended Salem United Methodist Church. She was very artistic, especially in pottery, and loved to make items for family and friends.
Survivors include: a daughter, Patricia Getz of Newton; four grandchildren, Kenneth Dingwall Jr. of Wichita, Kathy Dingwall Devaney of Excelsoir Springs, Mo., Bill Getz Jr. of Lawrence and Marsha Getz Lavenant of Phoenix; four great-grandchildren, Megan Dingwall, Ryan Dingwall, Nick Lavenant and Ted Lavenant; two step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Alma Stanislaus, Vesta Mellen and Irene Parker.
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. today at Petersen Funeral Home.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
Memorials have been established with Friendly Acres Retirement Community in care of the funeral home.
