Sarah Provoost Kellen

Sarah “Terry” Provoost Kellen, graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL and Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA with a BA Degree in Chemistry. She was a member and president of Kappa Alpha Theta. After graduation she was employed in the research laboratories of American Cyanamid Co. in Stamford, CT and as laboratory supervisor for the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, MI.

She was married to George Daniel Kellen of Boston for 67 years and was devoted to her four children, Daniel George Kellen (Valentina) of Milton, Carol Kellen Cobler (Richard) and Nancy Catherine Kellen of Pensacola and Dr. David Provoost Kellen (Julie) of Gulf Breeze; six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She considered herself lucky to have been close enough to play with her three sets of grandchildren; she made up games and told stories to entertain them. Terry enjoyed bridge and tennis. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church where she served as a Stephen Minister. Her parents, the late William and Elizabeth Provoost were residents of Azalea Trace.

In Decatur, AL, she held many part time jobs including insurance adjuster and was an active volunteer serving as president of the Tri County Association for Retarded Citizens and secretary for the Alabama Association for Retarded Citizens. She was a Girl Scout leader for daughter Nancy’s special troop and also for daughter Carol’s Junior troop, taught swimming to elementary school children and ran a swimming program for mentally handicapped children. She taught Sunday School at St. Ann’s Church, was prefect of St. Ann Catholic Church Sodality and secretary for the parish council. She was a cofounder and president of the Decatur Women’s Tennis Association.

The Kellens moved to Pensacola in 1976. Her employment here included years of office work for both a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Terry was on the board of Arc Gateway several times, a committee member often and was awarded the Pearl Nelson Special Service Award in 2003; she was a cofounder, officer, chaperone and dancer with the Pensacola Special Steppers, a square dance club for mentally challenged adults, for 30 years.

She was an avid tennis player both in Decatur and Pensacola, playing till age 90, and was often captain of her Roger Scott, Pensacola Racquet Club and Pensacourt Teams. In 2021 she was honored by the tennis community with a reception and dedication of Court 1 at Roger Scott Tennis Center for her years of participation and for starting the Great Pensacola Ladies Tennis League in 1978.

In 1998 she received the Volunteer of The Year Award from the Council on Aging for her years of delivering Meals on Wheels.

In 2009 she was inducted into the Pensacola Sports Association Hall of Fame for her contribution to women’s tennis. Other volunteer activities included West Florida Rehabilitation Institute, The Arc Senior Adult Program and the Manna Food Pantry for many years.

She will be remembered by friends and family for the numerous poems she wrote for many occasions.

The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 28, 2025 at St. Paul Catholic Church with Father Grant Sennott as celebrant. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until Mass time on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Memorials may be made to Arc Gateway, 3932 N. 10th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503.

Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway, is entrusted with arrangements.