Kathy Kelley

Funeral services for Kathy Kelley, 63, longtime Clinton educator, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Larry Holder.  Burial will follow at Clinton Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.  
Kathryn Yvonne (Smith) Kelley was born June 19, 1953, to Clyde W. and Edna M. (Knauf) Smith in Cordell and passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, while on a Caribbean Cruise on the Gulf of Mexico.
Kathy was raised in Cordell where she graduated from Cordell High School in 1971.  She continued her education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.  She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree and continued to work to complete her Master’s Degree. She started her teaching career in Granite and after two years she moved to Clinton, where she had taught for over 39 years.  She  taught English, Speech, Drama, Humanities and led the Legal Team with many outstanding accomplishments.
She married Gerald Kelley on April 7, 1979, in Cordell, and they made their home in Clinton.   
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She has been very active in Southwest Playhouse, serving on the board as well as serving as president.
She loved to garden and spend time taking care of her flowers.  She had a passion for working with her students on the Legal Team of Clinton High School. Kathy’s greatest accomplishments and loves were family, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law, Gary McConnell and J.M. Kelley.
She is survived by her husband, Gerald, of the home, daughter, Ashley Kelley, Clinton, two sons, Ryan Kelley and wife, Kendra, of Idaho, and Eric Kelley and wife, Jessica, of Elk City, and a sister, Paula McConnell; sisters-in-law Wanda Murchison of Norman and Martha Kelley of Clinton, and brother-in-law Jack Kelley and wife Pat of Clinton.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Brandon Luke, Blaine Jackson, Britton Ryan, Kenzee Brooke, Gracelyn Paige, Kassidy Renee and Brecken Wayne.
The family has suggested those wanting to give a memorial contribution may do so to the Clinton High School Legal Team or to Southwest Playhouse.
Family will greet guests at the funeral home 5-7 p.m. Thursday.