Beverly Jean Kelley

Beverly Jean Kelley, 85, entered Heaven’s Gates with her girls by her side on July 19, 2019 at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Beverly was born January 23, 1934, in Lawrenceville, Illinois, the second daughter of the late Randall F. and Mary Margurite Ring Fortner. She was married to James R. “Jim” Kelley on November 28, 1951 in Piggott, Arkansas.

She was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church in New Bloomfield and she enjoyed traveling with her girls, oil painting, quilting, crocheting and the St. Louis Cardinals. She graduated from Riverview Gardens High School in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri

and attended Westminster College and William Woods University in Fulton before receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri at the age of 50.

She had worked for the State of Missouri for thirty one years until her retirement. Beverly was a published poet and a

former Mary Kay representative. She was very proud of her girls and she will be remembered as a very loving mother and grandmother.

Survivors include her husband, Jim; four daughters, Judy Harris, Debbie (Ron) Murphy, Diane (Scott) Young and Sherri (Rick) Knoll; seven grandchildren, Craig Abbott, Kristi Heritage, Kelley Klein, Angela “Angie” Rummerfield, Karly Lawson, Elizabeth “Beth” McGeorge and Aaron Murphy along with seventeen great-grandchildren, Ashton Rydman, Asasiah “Asiah” Rydman, Delaney Brunk, Chandler Rydman, Braeden Klein, Sarah Abbott, Phoenix Lawson, Macie Abbott, Jerzie Lawson, Samuel McGeorge, Carl “Jack” McGeorge, Bentley Lawson, Lucas “Luke” McGeorge, Evan Rummerfield, Memphis Lawson, Madison “Maddie” Rummerfield and Charlotte McGeorge, one brother, Kenneth R. Fortner and one sister, Terri K. Green. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Ann Savens; grandson, Rick Hunger and her beloved pets, Charlie Brown and Buddy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery Fund in care of Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court Street, Fulton, Missouri 65251.

online condolences may be made at www.debofuneralhome.com