Carol Kelley

CAROL E. KELLEY

Independence

Carol E. Kelley, 93, of Independence, died Friday, March 30, 2018, at Buchanan County Health Center Hospice Unit in Independence.

She was born May 12, 1924, in Independence, Iowa, the daughter of Charles W. and Elsie V. (Boyack) Devens. She was a 1942 graduate of Independence High School. On April 29, 1946, she married the love of her life, James E. Kelley, in St. John's Catholic Church Parsonage in Independence. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, People's Hospital Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society. She also spent several years serving on the library board at the Independence Library.

She enjoyed sewing and spending time with friends. She loved going out to many local restaurants for lunch with Jim and friends called the "Birthday Club."

Carol is survived by a daughter, Alanna (Larry) Kerns, Ridgeway, Mo., and three grandchildren, Chris, Bryan and Erin Miller, and two great-grandchildren, Braygen and Braylee Miller; an adopted daughter, Wendy (Richard) Sperfslage and family, Winthrop; and a brother, Charles Devens, Dubuque; and special K-9 friend, BoTy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 71 years, James Kelly, who died Nov. 8, 2017; and a cousin, Esther Baqenstos-Sawers

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, at Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence with Sharon Bainbridge officiating. Burial will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Winthrop.

To leave an online condolence, please go to www.reifffuneralhome.com under obituaries.