Ann Kelly

Ann Kelly (Margery Ann Albers) was born February 19, 1945 in Charleston, Illinois to Bob and Bette Albers. She grew up with three younger sisters, Juanita, Becky, and Elaine, in Illinois and Hawaii. She studied Biology at Lake Forest College, where she briefly met husband-to-be, Don Kelly. He enlisted in the Army and they fell in love via airmail. They were married in Kaneohe, HI on May 18, 1969. On a whim, they moved to Bend, Oregon to raise their daughters, Kate (Norland) and Mandy (Sundet). They bought their current home in 1976, the furnishings of which are a tribute to Ann and Don’s life philosophy of minimal consumerism, buying only necessary items and continuing to use and enjoy them until they are no longer able to be repaired or repurposed. The decor reflects her love for bright colors and pride in her family members’ artwork. The family owned one car until Kate learned to drive in 1988, which meant that Ann regularly drove Don 20 minutes to his job in Tumalo and returned in the evening to pick him up. Their time together in the car set a pattern for in-depth discussions about every aspect of their lives and times. Ann was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church, building her closest friendships through women’s circles and quilting. She stayed home to raise her daughters, responding with “philosopher” when asked her occupation. Ann later worked as a bookkeeper for property management and real estate offices. Post-retirement, Ann and Don spent 20 years building houses for Habitat for Humanity. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Ann shifted her energy to the First Presbyterian Church ministry of Kits for Kids, organizing volunteers and sewing hundreds, if not thousands, of patchwork bags to be filled with supplies for children in need. Ann was an avid reader and passed that passion to her daughters. She was never without a stack of paperback mysteries from the Deschutes County Library. Ann was also a talented writer, penning letters to the editor and in support of organizations, such as Amnesty International. Ann took great pride and joy in motherhood. She was intentional in modeling integrity and wisdom and believed her daughters were capable of doing anything. Once asked whether she was concerned that a peer might have a bad influence on her daughter, she replied, “No, she will have a good influence on him.” Because of her own blessed marriage, Ann’s strong desire was for her girls to choose wonderful life partners. She frequently stated that she had hit the jackpot with her sons-in-law, Erik and Erik, and they reciprocated her warmth, respect, and love. In 1996, Ann happily added the title of “Grann”, and actively pursued close relationships with her grandchildren Kyle, Mckenna (Elliott), Ryen (Mike), Conner (Chloe), Raquel, Zoe, Karalyn, and great grandson Koen. Grann and Dudsy (Don) frequently visited their grandchildren in Wenatchee, Washington, and welcomed them to Bend each summer for a week full of activities and outings. She taught them all to sew, bake biscuits, and use correct grammar. Ann loved spending quality time with her loved ones. She got down on the ground with little ones, listened patiently to rambling stories, remembered details about involvements, looked for ways to lend a hand, and took every opportunity to ride along for errands. She was a competitive progressive rummy player and kept an ongoing record of family games in her scorebook. Ann loved her quiet life of daily rhythms at her husband’s side, starting every day with Tetley tea, steel cut oats, physical therapy exercises, solitaire, and Sudoku and crossword puzzles with Don. Throughout the day, she read and sewed and chatted, in person and on the phone, and every evening she and Don watched a movie from the last standing Blockbuster. She had a robust distinct laugh and enjoyed a good “zinger,” even at her own expense. Ann was an original and she lived her life well. She is remembered for her cleverness, toughness, dependability, generosity, and welcoming nature. She will be incredibly missed. A Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on October 28, 2023 at the Fist Presbyterian Church of Bend, 230 NE 9th Street. The family invites everyone to celebrate Ann by wearing your most colorful outfit to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kits for Kids through the First Presbyterian Church website: https://bendfp.org/2022/04/kits-for-kids-2/

Tributes

Ann Kelly

February 19, 1945 - August 17, 2023