Elsie Jean Kelly

Services will be held at the Barnard United Methodist Church at 10am on Saturday, January 8, 2022.  The family will host a reception at the Barnard Community Center following the services, all are invited.

Elsie Jean Kelly of Barnard, Kansas passed away Friday, December 31, 2021.  She was one of seven children born to Albert and Nellie (Wormser) Wild on May 20, 1923.  Elsie Jean was raised on a farm west of Barnard and attended a one room schoolhouse.  In 1941 she graduated from Lincoln High School.  Following graduation, she taught grade school during the war.

Elsie Jean married Howard O. Kelly in 1942 while he was serving in the United States Army Air Corp.  She found work wherever his military duties moved them.  They soon settled on a farm NW of Barnard where they would spend their life raising a family and farming.

Elsie Jean and Howard were blessed with four children that she took great pride in.  She encouraged her children in their education, creative projects and living a life of service; she led by example. Elsie was involved in many church and community activities.

Elsie Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Howard; siblings Dorothy Simpson, Pauline McBride-LaDuke, Alma O'Neal, Lois Wallace-Wilde, Robert Wild and granddaughter Jeanette Brockway.

She is survived by her brother James (Betty) Wild; children Joyce (Ed) Brockway, Armin (Vicki) Kelly, Marie (Maurice) Moffitt and Charles (Leslie) Kelly; grandchildren Jason (Deborah) Brockway, Jeremy (Christina) Brockway, Kline (Penny) Kelly, Kameron (Nickole) Kelly, Damen (Stacy) Moffitt, Kurt (Cynthia) Moffitt, Rachel (John) Blaylock and Will (Lauren) Kelly along with 17 great-grandchildren.