Marian Darlene Kelley

Marian Kelley, 77, left this earthly realm peacefully on Thursday, October 3, 2024. She was born in Warren, Ohio, the youngest of five children born to Marion Bert Simpkins and Shirley Porter. She was a loving Spouse, Mother and Grandmother whose life was defined by faith, family, and service.

Marian served several careers in her lifetime. She entered the Dominican Sisters Convent right out of High School. Her work with them encouraged her to become a teacher. She attended Kent State University and graduated with a B.S. degree in Education in 1974. She was there in 1970 during the tumultuous time of protests against the Viet Nam war when four students were shot and killed by the National Guard. After graduation she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where she taught for three years at a Catholic High School.

Her next adventure took her to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. In September, 1977, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS). Her company was selected to undergo “Basic Combat Training” to see if women could complete the same training as the men did. Not only did all the female company complete the training, they excelled! She served her four year enlistment with honor, achieving the rank of Sergeant. It was at Ft. Jackson that she met the love of her life, Lynne. In 1981 they were married in a private religious ceremony, then legally married in Washington D.C. in 2010 when same-sex marriage became legal there. They raised their son John Thomasson in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

In addition to being a Catholic Sister, a teacher, and a Soldier, she worked as an Adult Probation Officer at the old Bisbee, AZ. Courthouse. After completing her Master’s degree in History at the University of Arizona, she joined the Federal Civil Service at Ft. Huachuca. She trained as a Military Intelligence Research Specialist and received many commendations for her work with USAIC, 111th MI Bde, 309th MI Bn. She also served as the Public Affairs Officer at Ft. Huachuca. She retired in 2001 as Chief, Training Development Management Office and was awarded the “Superior Civilian Service Award."

After retiring she went on to follow her dream, of becoming a Priest. She attended Sophia Divinity School and was ordained as an independent Catholic Priest in the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch-Malabar Rite. She established “Holy Trinity House of Prayer" on Ramsey Rd. She said Mass there every Sunday until her health forced her to downsize to a small chapel in her home, a practice that she continued until her passing. Through the church Marian became close friends with H. Henrietta Stockel, a noted author and expert on the Chiricahua Apaches. They would travel to Ruidosa, N.M. every summer to observe and join in the Puberty Ceremony Feasts. Marian loved the Apache people and they loved her. She was honored when they called her “Grandmother”. Marian co-authored and published a book with Henrietta, “Drumbeats from Mescalero”. Becoming an author inspired her to publish a book of her own poetry, “A Turtle on the Yellow Road- the Transformation of a Modern Mystic”.

In 2017 Marian and Lynne moved to Apache Junction to be closer to their son John and his wife Karen. They were thrilled when they became Grandparents in 2018 when Charli was born and again in 2021 with the arrival of Jace. They were truly blessed!

Her family meant everything to her and nothing was more precious than celebrating Sunday Mass in her little chapel and then spending the rest of the day with John and Karen and her two precious grandchildren, Charli and Jace. She was well-loved and will be missed.

Marian will be buried with Military Honors at Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. to 12:30 P.M. at External Service Location, 1300 S Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.

The family will hold a “Celebration of Life’ gathering for Marian at their home in Apache Junction in the near future. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity in her name.