Martha Joan Kelley

Martha Joan Kelley, 90, of Frankfort, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2015, at Wesley Manor Retirement Community.  

Joan was born December 16, 1924, in Sedalia, to Lewis A. and Pauline Miller Jones.  On July 30, 1944, she married Ralph Kelley; he passed away on March 19, 2008.

After Joan’s mother passed when she was just two weeks old, she lived with her grandparents, William and Maggie Jones of Sedalia.  At age 12, Joan moved back with her father and step-mother, Mable Mink Reppert Jones in Frankfort.  Joan graduated from Frankfort High School in 1943.  After graduation, Joan spent time in the Detroit area where she worked at Ford Motor Company; she then moved back to Frankfort where she was a rivet inspector during World War II at Ing-Rich.  Joan always told her family that she was not Rosie the Riveter even though she inspected Rosie’s Rivets. Throughout her life, Joan was a homemaker and member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church, XYZ Club, and the Women’s Circle.  Joan and Ralph liked to winter in Florida, and enjoyed camping at Knop Lake.

Surviving are her children, Jimmy J. (Sharon) Kelley of Mulberry and Rita (George) Kvakovszky of Houston, TX; sister, Janet Sanders of Lafayette; two grandsons, Bruce Kelley and Eric Kelley; great grandchildren, Leah, Brett, Braidyn, Ashley, and A.J.; great, great granddaughter, Melody Langkop; and 19 nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Joan is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and two sisters.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at Amanda Reid Memorial Chapel in Wesley Manor from 12:00 p.m. to the start of the funeral service at 2:00 p.m.  Chaplain Barbara Kinsler will officiate.  Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery in Frankfort.  Memorials in Joan’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Clinton County Humane Society.  Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.