Maxine Kelly

Maxine Kelly, 89, left this earthly home on December 18, 2021.

She was born August 13, 1932, to Douglas and Ollie Stanton in Logan.

She married Floyd Kelly July 6, 1951, in Downs, Kan. This union was blessed with six children: Mike Kelly, Marilyn Donahey, Jackie Bostick, Jaynelle McCreery, Kevin Kelly and Jamie Fischer. 

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Rex and Junior. Her beloved husband, Floyd, preceded her in death Feb. 11, 2008. Their son, Kevin, lost his battle with cancer in 2015.

Survivors include her children: Mike (Sheila) Kelly of Greeley, Colo., Marilyn (Larry) Donahey of Norton, Jacalyn Bostick of Ellensburg, Wash., Jaynelle (Ron) McCreery of Phillipsburg, Kelly (Shawn) of Willard, Mo., and Jamie (Ray) Fischer of Claflin; grandchildren: Mike (Sarah) Kelly, Kevin P. Kelly, Nathan (Kerri) Donahey, Amanda (Lorenzo) Araujo, Ricky (Vanessa) Bostick, Kelly Lynn Bacon, Stephanie (Ray) Niblock, J.R. (Jamie) McCreery, Ben (Jamie) Reverts, Abby (Steven) Pedersen, Logan (Chantal) Kelly, Shelby (Jason) Mager, Nikki (Tim) Meeks, Adrienne Van Hunnick, Kevin Nolan Kelly, and Charles (Danielle) Fischer; great-grandchildren: Ronan, Emmett and Griffin Kelly, Kash and Kollyns Kelly, Lucy (Joshua) Stewart, Jordyn (Cody) Bredemeier, Dallas Gosselin, Kelly, Kayla and Austin Donahey, Joaquin and Rheneas Araujo, Hope, Hailey and Duane Bostick, Emma Bacon, Cody and Megan Niblock (Dan Schroeder), Delanee Bedore, Andrew and Carsen Meitl, Katelyn McCreery, Peyton and Kyler Reverts, Jordan, Jayna, Beckham and Briggs Pedersen and another February due in 2022, Ezra and Atlas Mager, Hadley Fischer, Rayna Kelly and another due in 2022; and great-great-grandchildren: Jaxon Villalreal, Davion Stewart, Riley Stewart, Joshua Stewart II, Paisley Stewart, Garrett Stewart, Xavier Bredemeier, Vincent Bredemeier and Brynlee Schroeder. She is also survived by her sister, Delores Hooper of Peoria, Ariz.

Maxine attended Logan schools and graduated in 1950. She started her work career in the 4th grade working at Chestnut’s Grocery as a clerk and carry out person, and remembers dealing with rationing stamps. She then worked at Snider’s Café as a waitress and also at Ware’s Drug Store. She worked for several years at the Norton State Hospital (where she always included residents, who could not go home for holidays, with our family celebrations so that they would not be left out. Instilling in us all the sense of caring for others and to know that in the blink of an eye circumstances could change.) She continued her State of Kansas service upon moving to Great Bend by working for the Department of Corrections Parole Services and Kansas Department of Transportation. She also worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) office in Great Bend.

Throughout the years of the kids growing up she was active in the Christian Church. She helped teach Sunday School, sang in the choir, participated in the Easter Cantatas, Halloween celebrations and was a member of Willing Workers. She always made sure to bring several covered dishes of food to potluck dinners that were held at the church. She recently recalled a time when the sixth grade Sunday School class pulled an April Fool’s joke on the members of the church by putting a note on the front doors of the church saying “Fresh Paint – Use the Back Door." When members went to the back door they were met with a note of “April Fools." She was also active in leading Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Family was her greatest joy. Family get-togethers were special to her. Support of her children and families was shown by her attendance at events of all kinds over several states. When she couldn’t attend, there was always a phone call to find out how things went and she enjoyed numerous videos of the accomplishments. Music was a huge part of her life. Car rides turned in to sing-a-longs and many Christmases were spent loading up the family and going caroling to relatives, friends, neighbors and the nursing home. She loved music of all kinds (except that yah, yah, yah stuff) and enjoyed dancing.

Gardening and her love of flowers were shared with all of us, even Dad got a workout with transplanting bushes, trees and flowers. Her desire to beautify her surroundings continued upon her move to the Logan Manor and was carried out by family members so that she could continue to enjoy her surroundings and provide joy to others through this beautification. Her love of sewing was reflected from early on with all the Barbie doll clothes made from wedding dresses. Each Easter she would provide new Easter dresses for her daughters.

After retiring she began making quilts for family members. Floyd was soon recruited to cut out the pieces and then she would piece them together. Following his death, she continued to make quilts with the assistance of her daughters. It brought her great joy to provide these to family members throughout the years.

She enjoyed spending time with some close friends, Lovetta Woods and Grace VanRoekel—going out for supper together, playing Skip-Bo, driving around Phillipsburg to look at flower gardens and then making trips out to the country to her daughter Jaynelle’s yard to view the flowers, and offering produce from grandson J.R.’s garden, at the farm, to her friends. She also enjoyed frequent visits with her lifelong friend Thelma Bushnell.

As many can attest to, her love of board games was demonstrated most strongly in her desire to play Scrabble at every available chance. She would take on anyone at a game of Scrabble. Those taking her on better be ready for her inventive words and her skill at winning the game. Her Scrabble dictionary was well used.