Mary Susan Kelley-Conter

Born on Easter Sunday, March 24, 1940, in Batesville, Indiana, Mary Susan Kelley-Conter was “a woman for all seasons” and an “independent creative genius,” a life marked by steady capability, discerning taste, and a rare blend of imagination and resolve.

Mary was born to Ralph and Vivian Wulber of Brookville, Indiana. She is survived by her spouse of 36 years, Mark A. Conter of Huntersville, NC; her son, Robert John ‘Jack’ Kelley of Crested Butte, Montana; her daughter, Mary Theresa Kelley Wooley and James of Ft. Myers, Fl.; her granddaughters, Macy and Cody Langford of Punta Gorda, Fl., and Zoe Wooley of Alva, FL.; her sister, Bonnie and Bob Merrell of Brookville IN; and her sister, Dawn Wulber Roberta. Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia and Bob Nees of Pennsylvania, and her brother, Ralph ‘Sam’ Wulber of Brookville IN.

Mary’s professional life reflected both discipline and vision. A nurse graduate of Bethesda Medical School, she went on to earn a Masters from Florida State in Tallahassee. With her late husband, Robert J. Kelley, she helped start a casket business, “Concept Caskets,” later sold to Hildenbrandt Industries. She also built a notable career in the death care industry with Service Corporation International, serving in the Funeral pre-planning division and in the cemetery division, where she managed locations in Raleigh, NC; Winston-Salem, NC; Monroe, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Hixson, TN; and Nashville, TN. In every role, she brought order, clarity, and a standard of excellence that made a lasting impression.

Creativity was not simply an interest for Mary—it was a way of moving through the world. She loved to sew and created her own wardrobe, taking particular joy in making matching dresses for her granddaughters. She was an artist in many forms of media, admired for her pencil work and especially for calligraphy so striking that her handwritten notes were rarely discarded by those who received them. Her eye for beauty and detail extended to the home she maintained, shaped by decorating skill and thoughtful touches that spoke to pride, care, and a refined sensibility.

Mary also brought determination and poise to her pursuits. She was a scratch golfer and a Club Champion, and in earlier years was named Homecoming and Sequential Queen at Brookville High, Indiana. She was an avid reader—often a book a day—guided by a mind that remained engaged and curious. Her affection for Shi Tzus was a constant through the years, including KC, Denver, Maxwell, and her favorite, Samantha “Sammie Girl.” True to her enduring grace, she especially loved Classical Music, with Mozart among her preferred selections.

A funeral Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC, is planned for October 15th, 2026. Mary will be inurned at Lakeland Memorial Gardens in Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Hospital for children would be respected.