Melita D Kelsey

2024.

Dee Dee is survived by her husband of 47 years, Kent T. Kelsey of Byhallia, MS; daughters

Jade E. (Jay) Kelsey of Fort Wayne, IN, Megan B. Kelsey of Fort Wayne, IN, Kende S. (Jason)

Hare, of South Whitley, IN; her grandsons Ethan T. Kelsey of Lakeland, FL, Tyler M. (Darian)

Hare, and Riley R. Hare of Columbia City, IN; her great-grandchildren Hayden and Krew Hare;

her sisters Jackie Horan of Fort Wayne,IN Michelle (Max) Freeman of Detroit, MI and Nikki (Roy)

Horther of Fort Wayne, IN; brothers-in-law Brett Kelsey, Paul (Jenny) Alexander, her

sisters-in-law, Cathy Alexander, and Laurie Alexander, her in-laws, John and Pat Alexander; her

nieces and nephews, Myron Short, Dion (Terri) Short, Mark (Teresa) Freeman, Matthew (Lori)

Freeman, Danielle Gael, Jessica Rardin, Stacy (Chad) Ihrie, Steve Krieger, Christie (Tom)

Fischer, Luke Krieger, Jordan (Kaitlin) Krieger, Rachel (Drew) Achenbach, Cheryl (Travis)

Shepherd, Dana (Ari) Johnson, Alex (Staci) Johnson, Kaitlynn Alexander, Ian Alexander, Jordan

Alexander; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Krieger of Fort Wayne, IN; her father, Wayne

Krieger of Kendallville, IN; her sister, Suzanne Rider of Fort Wayne, IN; her brother, Chris

Krieger, Sr. of Bradenton, FL; her brother-in-law Jack Alexander and her mother-in-law, Thelma

Alexander.

Dee Dee began her passion for Teaching, where her children attended elementary school, as a

volunteer. She later graduated from The University of St. Francis with a bachelor’s degree in

Education and then from Georgetown College with a Master of Arts in Education. She recently

retired from Teaching and spent her retirement gardening, crafting, and managing a rural

household.

She will be remembered for her love of Education, her love of family, and her creative vitality.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church,

2417 Getz Road, Fort Wayne, IN. Calling begins at 10 AM, and services begin at 11 AM. Guests

are invited to stay for refreshments.

Pastor Tom Ream will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and commemorate Dee

Dee’s extraordinary life.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Reading is Fundamental at rif.org. Reading is

Fundamental is a not-for-profit children’s reading education model that integrates the joy of

reading, and the motivation to read, with the science of reading and comprehension. Dee Dee

dedicated her life to teaching children to read, and she was passionate about reading

proficiency.