Sara Katherine Kellow

Sara Kathryn Kaufman Kellow, born on June 10, 1920 to John and Mary (Simpson) Kaufman in Wichita Falls, TX, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2014 in Dallas, TX. She was 93. She was a loving, kind, and dedicated daughter, niece, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who’s love of life was only matched by her dedication to the Lord and her family. She graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas in 1938 and attended Lon Morris Junior College, where she was later awarded an Outstanding Alumni Award, before earning her teaching degree from the University of Houston. At Lon Morris she met the love her life, the late Reverend M. Keith Kellow and they married in September of 1942. As the devoted and very supporting wife of a Methodist minister, Sara Katherine followed her husband as he moved to different Methodist ministerial positions throughout East and Southeast Texas, from Tyler to Nacogdoches to Tenaha to Galveston, before settling in Houston. After retirement, she returned with Keith to Dallas to be closer to family. She was a lifelong educator, primarily teaching elementary school, but also acting as a docent at the Houston Zoo. She was named “Teacher of the Year” at Cornelius Magnet School in Houston, received a certificate of merit upon her retirement, and was a member of the Association of Childhood Education, the Texas State Teacher Association, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Teachers Society. In addition to teaching, she volunteered at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Methodist Hospital in Houston, and the “Reach to Recovery” program of the American Cancer Society. She was artistic at heart, showing a talent for music through singing and playing the piano and organ, as well as being a gifted artist, moving from elaborate needlepoints and quilts to watercolor and oil landscapes to abstract sculptures later in life. She and her husband traveled all over the world, fulfilling a zest for learning new cultures and exploring new places, and passing down that love of travel to her children and grandchildren. They traveled and camped in almost every state in the US and also traveled to 5 continents. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Rev. Keith Kellow. The family gratefully acknowledges the care and comfort provided by the staff at C.C. Young Retirement Community, particularly those in the Cove, Miller, and Young buildings. She is survived by her three children: daughter Mary Ann & husband Eddie Mahon, son M. Keith Kellow Jr., and son John K. & wife Kristi Kellow; grandchildren Melanie A. Mahon & Jayson Sypniewski and Edward J. Mahon; great-grandchildren Aiden and Nora Sypniewski; her aunt Janice “Tidlee” Miller; as well as many beloved cousins and friends. Visitation will be Thursday, May 8 from 6 – 8 at Sparkman Hillcrest. A memorial service will be held in the Cox Chapel at Highland Park United Methodist Church at 10:30am on Saturday, May 10, 2014. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her honor may be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation.