Elizabeth Ann Kelley

Elizabeth Ann Kelley passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Hospice in Manhattan, KS on September 21, 2024 at the age of 85. She was born October 1, 1938 in Clifton, KS. She was the daughter of Roger and Mary Howley.

She was raised on a farm in Clifton and graduated from high school there. She then moved to Manhattan to attend Cosmetology School but decided that was not the avenue that she wanted to pursue, so she became a Nurse’s Aide and worked at St Mary’s Hospital. It was at St. Mary’s Hospital that she met her future husband, James Francis Kelley who was a patient in the hospital with a severely broken leg. He apparently had almost lost his leg, so he was a patient of hers for quite a while. They later married on April 12, 1964. They were married 47 years at the time of his death on September 30, 2011.

After working at St. Mary’s for several years, she decided to stay at home once her oldest child was born. She later attended KSU to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Art. She went to school part time while her children were in middle school and high school. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree after 8 years in 1986. She decided to continue on in school and began attending Emporia State to pursue a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy. She also continued to attend school part time, driving daily from Manhattan to Emporia. She graduated after 4 years in 1991. She then began working at Pawnee Mental Health in Manhattan and worked there for 10 years before she retired. She wanted to spend more time working on her art. She was a member of art groups in Manhattan and Clifton and often had her work displayed, and for sale in local shows in the area. She also had several paintings that adorned the walls of Steel and Pipe Supply Company, (now SPS), where her husband worked for 65 years. She was also a member of Seven Dolors church and volunteered and served in various capacities throughout the years.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Mary Jackson (Kelley), her husband Bill Jackson and their children Christopher Jackson (25) and Matthew Jackson (23) of Eudora, KS. She is also survived by her son, Roger Kelley, his wife Angie, and their children Wes Kelley (22) and Abby Kelley (20) of Kansas City, MO. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roger and Mary Howley, her sister Jean Hayes, her brother Charles Howley, and her husband James Kelley.

Visitation Memorial Services will be held at Irvin Parkview Funeral Home on Monday September 30, 2024 from 6-8 pm. Funeral Services will be held at Seven Dolors Catholic Church on Tuesday October 1, 2024. Rosary will be held at 1:30 pm and funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm. The family asks that anyone attending funeral services be dressed in colorful attire to memorialize Elizabeth’s love of art, and in celebration of her birthday, which is the same day as her funeral services.

Irvin Parkview is handling arrangements.