Linda Gayle Kelly

Linda Gayle Kelly, age 74, passed away on November 25, 2021. A lifelong resident of Montgomery, Alabama, Ms. Kelly was living at Eastdale Estates, an assisted living facility in Montgomery, at the time of her passing.

Linda was born to Annette Day Kelly and Malcolm Karl Kelly on September 21, 1947. She was a graduate of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery and received her B.A. from Huntington College in 1970. Linda enjoyed a long career as a librarian in the Montgomery school system. She was instrumental in the opening of the Brewbaker Junior High library where she worked until her retirement due to health issues.

Linda loved sharing her passion for reading with her students and was an enthusiastic and dedicated educator. As a member of the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) on both sides of her family, Linda spent time researching her ancestry and compiling detailed records about her family tree. Linda was a talented cook and enjoyed hosting friends and family at her home especially during college football season. A lifelong Auburn football fan, Linda loved to text or call friends during a game to comment or commiserate about the Tigers’ performance on the field. Linda’s other lifelong passion was dogs, especially Cassie and Petra who were her beloved companions until their deaths. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery and greatly treasured her many friendships within the church community.

Linda was a kind and giving person whose love of and devotion to friends and family was immeasurable. Despite the many difficulties that she encountered over the course of her life, Linda remained an optimist at heart who was able to find joy in big and small events alike, whether it was the birth of a friend’s grandchild, photos of a friend’s new puppy, or an Auburn Tigers touchdown.

Linda was preceded in death by her beloved parents Annette and Karl Kelly, and her cherished grandparents Claud C. Day and Willie Vaughn Ward. Survivors include her cousins Bruce Edward Kelly Jr. (Judith), Albert Clay Kelly (Sandra), Bruce Ward (Melanie), and Laura Bodiford (William); as well as numerous other cousins and friends.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens, 909 Lincoln Rd, Montgomery, Alabama 36109.

Donations can be made in Linda’s honor to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.nationalbreastcancer.org) and/or the ALS Association, National Office (www.alsa.org).