Kelley Faye Whitesell

She is survived by her mother, Peggy Smith; son, Martin Whitesell; daughter, Ginger Whitesell; brother, Mark Smith; and sister-in-law, Jodi Smith. Kelley is preceded in death by her beloved father Bill Smith and her best friend and dog, Cody Macarodie Billy Goat Redwolf.

Kelley’s legacy is one of pure unconditional love. Her greatest joy was people, and her compassion for others made every person she encountered feel valued and supported. A caring school teacher for 26 years, she had a soft spot for children in all their sweet ways and listened to everything her little “ladybugs” would say. Kelley loved silliness and being her authentic self; she was known for her infectious laugh and a wide range of unique vocalizations that brought smiles to those in her orbit. She was passionate about cooking and eating recipes old and new, celebrating her Irish ancestry through an annual St. Patrick’s Day bash, rocking out to her favorite tunes (accompanied by her beautiful operatic singing voice), planting pansies in her home garden, enjoying nature, and traveling (she did the splits in three continents!).

Kelley shined brightly with her warmth and kindness and drew others to her light. May the joy and comfort of her spirit live on in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Team Gleason https://teamgleason.org/donate/ or Horizon Elementary School, 8520 N 47th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85302.