Lee Kelton

Ira Lee Kelton, age 91, passed away peacefully into the hands of the Lord on January 25, 2019, after a valiant battle with Vascular Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. She was born on May 25, 1927 in Houston, Texas to her loving parents, the late Leola and Ike Hilmers.

Lee graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, Texas in 1944. She spent the next thirty-plus years of her life being a devoted wife and mother to her two daughters. In 1967 when her girls were ready to forge their own paths, she did too. From then until 1988, she worked as a dedicated employee of the Houston Independent School District as an administrative secretary to senior staff. In 1982 she married Cliff Kelton, the love of her life. Their true passion was traveling, Together, they visited most every state in the United States, perhaps all, and every continent except Antartica. Their travels became most memorable when family and friends accompanied them.

Lee is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Cliff Kelton, brother, Robert Earl Hilmers, and sister, Emma Mae Black. She is survived by two daughters, Judith Ann Adams and her husband, Larry; Joan Jennings and her husband Richard, and two step-sons, Curtis and Chris Kelton; grandchildren, Christopher Canales and his wife Kathleen, Andrea Eyring and her husband Matthew, Joshua Jennings and his wife, Nataly, Aaron Adams, Candace Boyt and her husband, Lane Boyt, and Alexis Shae Kelton; great grandchildren, Sloane Eyring and Addison Rae Young. Her sister-in-law Priscilla Hilmers, her children and grandchildren, and many cousins also survive her.

Lee loved her family. Her grandchildren will always be appreciative of her kindness and generosity, especially during the college and military service years. She never failed to regularly send them “burger” money as she called it. They loved it when they saw that envelope come in the mail from “Grandma.” Her generosity extended beyond those years as well.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019 inside the Chapel of American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77038. The family of Lee would like to invite her friends and loved ones to a reception on site following the service.

While Alzheimer’s robbed her of her memories in the past years, those who cared for her helped her manage and find some joy in each day. There are not enough ways to say “Thank You” to the wonderful staff at Belmont Village in West University who provided daily compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.