Ruth Underwood Kelley

Ruth Underwood Kelley passed away April 20, 2013. She was born Oct. 31, 1919 in Lauderdale County near Ripley, Tenn. She married J.T. Kelley in 1937. They enjoyed over fifty-five years of marriage before his death as they raised their five children in Southeast Arkansas in Elaine, McGehee and Monticello, Ark. In her youth Ruth joined with her brothers and sister to form a quartet which performed in the churches near her home. She sang a sweet, clear, alto. Later she sang in the choir. She loved music and she loved her church. She was a vibrant churchwoman and teacher of youth and adults in the Baptist churches where they lived with their growing family. She was a devoted Mother at home with her children. She led by nurture, love and the expectation that life was a gift to be returned with gratitude toward all creation. Her buoyancy served her as an unofficial ambassador to Springtree Health Center in Roanoke, Va. where she continued to nurture and care for those around her for almost eight years until her death. Ruth Kelley was preceded in death by her husband, J.T. Kelley; one son, J.T. Kelley Jr.; her brothers, Ed, Ralph, Rhea and one sister, Arah Sue Grammer. She is survived by a sister, Betty Lea, (Curlin); a sister in law, Othoniel Kirby Underwood, (Ralph); her children, Letitia Kelley Cross of Benton, Ark., Jeffrey Kelley, (Norma) of Conway, Ark., and their four daughters, Tamra Kehoe (Devon), Anita Kelley, Cristin Kelley, (Jim Windleborn) and Caitlin Kelley; Kitty Kelley Sims (Phil) of Roanoke, Va. and their two daughters, Ashleigh Morgan (Peter), and Kelley Queen; Joe Kelley (Dianne) of Citrus Heights, Calif., and their two sons, Andrew (Stephenie), J.T. Kelley and daughter Katy Kelley; John Kelley(Mary)or Roanoke Va. and their son Jacob (Alexis) and two daughters Courtney and Haley, and twelve great-grandchildren. Graveside services will follow at Grace Cemetery in Ripley, Tenn.