Jo Ann Kelly

Jo Ann Kelly was born September 19, 1933 in Edina, Missouri to Bessie and Joseph Stephan. Jo Ann was the fourth of five children. The family moved to Colorado in 1935. She married Ben Kennedy in Oregon in 1952. Two daughters, Pamela Jo and Patricia Ann, were born to this union. Ben and Jo Ann divorced and the girls and Jo Ann returned to Colorado in 1957. Jo Ann and Roy Kelly married in 1966.

Jo Ann graduated from Longmont High School in 1951. Most of her career was working at Montgomery Wards in the Denver area. She also worked at Swedish Hospital, retiring in 1995.

Jo Ann is survived by her daughters Pam (Jeff) White of Kersey, Colorado; Patty (Joe) Bellin of Idaho Falls, Idaho; 5 grandchildren, Tracy Jo (Chris) Martinez, Heather (Christopher) Knapp, Kelly Crum, Andy Dekle, Stephan (Jeana) Crum; 2 step-grandchilren, Zacory and Amanda White; 6 great-grandchildren, Tanda, Kirstie, Dustin and Dillon Martinez and Cole and Samantha Knapp; sister, Mary Kelley; brother, J.L. (Charlotte) Stephan; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husband Roy Kelly; both parents; sister Dorothy Gowen; brother Earl (Peggy) Stephan; grandduaghter Londa Lawley; nephew Lloyd Keith and niece, Kathy Staats.

JoAnn grew up in Longmont, Colorado. Her father died when Joann was very young, and she and her siblings Dorothy, Earl, Mary, and J.L. were raised in a loving environment by their mother, Bessie. She had scarlet fever as a child which caused many health complications throughout her life. She spent a summer as a child at Children's Hospital in Denver in a full body brace trying to straighten her back. She often spoke about wanting a normal childhood and just wanted to go back to school with everyone else. She graduated from Longmont High School in 1951. Her sisters Dorothy and Mary came from Salt Lake City for JoAnn's graduation, which in those days was quite a trip, and it meant a great deal to JoAnn.

JoAnn accompanied her mother to Oregon after graduation to work in the fruit fields. She met & married Ben Kennedy around 1952; Pam was born in 1954 and Patty was born in 1956. She never got used to the rainy, damp weather in Oregon. When she and Ben divorced, JoAnn and the girls returned to Colorado. For quite a few years, she lived near her sister Dorothy, often next door or downstairs.

After settling back in Colorado she began work at Schwader Brothers riveting the feet on luggage pieces. JoAnn then went to work at Montgomery Wards where she worked for many years in the credit department as a supervisor. When she first started, her wages were a "dollar and a nickel" an hour.

JoAnn was an avid bowler on several leagues over the years. She played on women's leagues and mixed couples leagues in the Denver area. She was a very good bowler with many 200 games and had a lot of awards and trophies to show for it. She enjoyed going to the tournaments, particularly the national tournaments and had a lot of memorable trips with the girls.

JoAnn met Roy Kelly, the love of her life, and they married in 1966. Roy introduced her to many new things, mostly camping and fishing. One of the few times they fought, it was over getting the trailer backed up into its parking spot. Pam and Patty learned at a young age when it was time to quietly disappear.

When Roy retired, JoAnn quit work so they could travel together. They traveled across the U.S. with their fifth wheel trailer. After that year, they settled into a routine of winters in Brownsville, Texas where they developed some great friendships, and summers in Idaho as campground hosts at Calamity Campground near Patty and her family. This left time for a month or two in Denver both in the spring and fall. Roy passed away in August of 1982 and JoAnn moved back to Colorado again, this time for good. She went back to work at Montgomery Wards and then later at Swedish Hospital, before retiring in 1995. She was a fierce supporter of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had 5 grandchildren, Tracy Jo, Heather, Kelly, Andy, and Stephan, and 2 step­-grandchildren Zacory and Amanda; and 6 great-grandchildren, Tanda, Kirstie, Dustin, Dillon, Cole and Samantha.

JoAnn was a "gamer". She was always ready for a hand of Skip Bo or some other card game even when no one else was. She always had to playa hand or two before anyone could go to bed and there were always the giggle parties after imbibing a couple of cocktails and had plenty of gestures to go with the giggles. She also loved to play Bingo, especially when she was winning. But even if she wasn't winning, she still loved to play. JoAnn wasn't a shopaholic, but she did love to shop and find a bargain and could always find that bargain.

You always knew when you were an accepted member of the family when you got seat and feet covers (underwear and socks) for Christmas, even if it wasn't quite the right size. Grammy was the only person I knew who never got older, as long as I remember every year she told us she was plenty nine. JoAnn was a social butterfly. She loved any kind of gathering or get together with family and friends. And there was always room for one.

Cinnamon became an important part of JoAnn's life after the death of her niece Kathy. Cinnamon was Kathy's dog and found a new home and life with JoAnn. Cinnamon now lives with Pam and her family.

Grammy sometimes spoke Pig Latin to the adults so that the little ears wouldn't understand what was being said.

For many years she continued to travel to Idaho to spend time with family, occasionally enjoying a Blue Moon at happy hour at the Frosty Gator with Patty and Joe. Don't forget the orange.

In July 2008 Jo moved to Greeley to be closer to Pam. She was living at Fair Acres Manor. After awhile Jo started to flourish playing Bingo, doing activities, the spelling bee, and making new friends. She was voted Valentine Day Queen this year. The staff loved her and with their care, Pam & Patty were given a second chance to enjoy having some quality time with her.

BUT ..... Jo often said she was "gettin out of here soon, going HOME and YES she could still drive" Where's my cigarettes??

They're with you Grammy. Safe Journey.

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of the love you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

I know we all miss Grammy and none of us can believe this has happened: but look at the positive. Grammy was a great mother, grandma, sister and cousin, but most of all she was a great friend. I remember her telling me stories of so long ago and they were surprisingly interesting! Grammy and I had gotten closer the past two years. We would talk about any and everything. Grammy and I would stay up watching movies, ordering pizza and not even telling

Grandma. I will forever miss those times but will always cherish them.
All I can think know is she is healthy, happy, and with Unle Earl and Granny. From now on we all shall just know: Grammy is watching over us and she is going to guide us to be the best we can.