Judy Louise Kelly

She was born on March 13, 1947 in Montebello, California to Robert and Laura Rorex. Growing up in Ridgecrest, California Judy developed an early love of horses. She enjoyed gymkhana equestrian events and rode in nearly every Ridgecrest parade for many years.

After graduating from Burroughs High School in 1965, she won Miss Desert Empire Fair and participated as Rodeo Queen in the rodeo circuit throughout the state. Then she attended College of the Desert in Palm Springs for a year and returned home to work with a naval contractor, ARINC as a key punch operator. It was fun, but when the contract was over, and the aeronautical company offered airline tickets at an extreme discount, her sense of adventure led her to join her friend, Rita in a once in a lifetime trip around the world. They saw everything they could in London, Rome, Naples, Florence, Istanbul, Pompei, New Delhi, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Hawaii.

Not long after, Judy married Phillip Kelly and they had Colleen and Michael. After a short time in Carson City, Nevada she returned to her beloved Ridgecrest and was employed in the family catering truck business the Galley Wagon and then did payroll and accounting for her husband Phillip’s business, Kelly Masonry. Her favorite job was working as an educational advisor at Cerro Coso Community College where she eventually retired after 20 years. She loved helping students navigate college requirements and achieve academic success.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Laura Rorex.

She is survived by her former spouse, Phillip (Donnie) Kelly; daughter, Colleen (Ralph) Miller; son, Michael (Nicole) Kelly; grandsons, Daniel (Molly) Miller and grandson Dylan Kelly; granddaughter, Riley Kelly; and great-grandson, Oliver Miller; sister, Laurie (Mel) Cornelius; niece, Kelly (Verne) Benadom; and nephew, Mitchell Tims, and numerous great nieces and nephews. A small family service will be held in Ridgecrest, California at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin-Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 423-265-4414.

Please visit our website to share your favorite memories of Judy: www.advantagefranklin-strickland.com