Bettie Elaine Kelley

Bettie Kelley passed away on Thursday, January 22nd, just 20 days short of her 101st birthday. She has been a vibrant resident of The Vero, a very wonderful, assisted living facility in St. Charles County. Bettie had a very special friendship with many of the fantastic staff members as we learned during her final days in hospice care.

She simply lived her life to serve her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and greatgreat grandchildren and any other family members who trusted her wisdom, friendship, and need for a loving listener. At home, she constantly maintained a positive attitude in good times and bad times. Relying on one of her most repeated phrases in the face of adversity, "It is only a temporary situation." Each of us had the opportunity to hear that expressed on many occasions. Clearly, she thrived on making things better. Whether actively engaging in home improvement projects like painting, reupholstering, and even digging out a basement under her cherished home, she never lacked energy in making things better. That energy and urge to accomplish at least one goal each day, we feel contributed greatly to her becoming a centenarian.

Bettie was greatly influenced by her mother's parents. One of four daughters of Marie and Frank Haigler, she was raised during the Great Depression primarily by her Ashworth grandparents in Northwest Missouri. Her exposure to farming, horseback riding, great cooking, physical chores, and as she described, great dancing were certainly manifested in the raising of her five children. In today's terms, she would be categorized as a multitasking mother who somehow worked fulltime, kept five kids in line, made costumes, cooked meals for seven, washed and ironed clothes, and kept her home spotlessly clean. Her hand-crafted pies, particularly the chocolate version, were coveted by everyone who was eager for a reward for doing her a favor.

Bettie's family meant everything to her. Consequently, her children's well-being was always the top of her daily priorities. Somewhat close behind were three passions that she was willing to share in any conversation. The first was her unbendable belief in our democratic system of government and her concerns about what the future may hold up until her last breath. The second was her distinctly proud heritage dating back to multiple relatives actively involved in our nation's War of Independence. With painstaking research, we were able to obtain her a membership in the Daughters of American Revolution organization. Lastly, Bettie's faith in God gave her peace of mind in the belief that everyone will end up doing the right thing when all is said and done.

As her children, we definitely agree that there are very few people who knew Bettie who did not like and respect her. She was very, very proud of that reputation. This reputation was not just with her generational peers, but with people of all ages. This statement is true with our extended family as well.

Bettie was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, John Arthur Kelley Sr. in 2017, her three sisters, and one grandson in 1994. Her surviving children are John Jr. (Christine), Kaye (John), Patrick (Liz), Timothy (Kathy), and Christopher (Kristine). They collectively are responsible for creating 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and currently 3 great-great grandchildren, which is reflective what can develop in your family when you live to be almost 101 years old.